Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, April 15, 2020 QATAR

Health minister visits Covid-19 treatment facilities

HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari yesterday visited two Hamad Medical Corporation hospitals – the Communicable Disease Center and Qatar Rehabilitation Institute - and met with senior off icials leading the delivery of Covid-19 services. She also visited the various facilities at the two hospitals. NHRC inspects Education minister visits schools, preventive steps in urges offi cials to motivate pupils

E the Minister of Ed- ucation and Higher penal institutions H Education, Dr Mo- hamed Abdul Wahed Ali al- Hammadi has asked the of- ficials concerned to make QNA Saif al-Kuwari, Deputy Chair- with paragraphs 6 of Article 3 use of all possible means to Doha man of NHRC and head of the of the above-mentioned law, deliver educational services visits and monitoring commit- which provides for monitoring to students with the required tee, said that the fi eld visit of the the human rights situation in quality during the Covid-19 he National Human Rights teams of the NHRC comes with- the country and co-ordinating crisis. Committee (NHRC) started in the framework of exercising its with the authorities concerned The minister, while visiting Ta series of fi eld visits to a competence related to monitor- to respond to them. various schools to review the number of penal institutions and ing the human rights situation in He noted that fi eld visits to educational process yesterday, places of detention to inspect their the country, and co-ordination penal institutions and places of asked the offi cials to reduce the commitment to the precautionary with the authorities concerned detention also come in response negative eff ects of Covid-19 by measures to prevent the spread of to respond to them, as well as to the reports of various interna- motivating students and main- HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi the coronavirus (Covid-19) and to preparing reports related to hu- tional organisations and United taining their enthusiasm and interacting with the officials of a school during a visit yesterday. meet the human rights standards Nations human rights mecha- passion to study. set forth in international laws and The NHRC aims, through nisms that require national hu- The minister visited Raba’a Dr al-Hammadi met the ad- including the availability of parents’ support for their chil- covenants during periods of crisis, its fi eld visits, to promote man rights institutions to sub- Al Adawiyya Secondary ministration representatives distance learning inputs. dren and mechanisms for en- in light of the exceptional circum- and protect human rights, mit reports on the nature of the School for Girls and Ali Bin and work teams in the schools. The minister also expressed hancing communication among stances in the world due to the especially for the inmates measures taken by countries to Abitaleb Preparatory School He reviewed the progress happiness over the perform- them during the Covid-19 pan- spread of the epidemic. and detainees confront the Covid-19 pandemic For Boys. During the visit, HE of the educational process ance of students and teachers, demic. The committee’s fi eld vis- and their compatibility with in- its team visited the men’s and man rights situation and sub- ternational standards. women’s sections of the central mitting them to the Council of Dr al-Kuwari added that the prison to monitor the humani- Ministers along with its views in NHRC team will prepare, at the tarian conditions of inmates, line with the paragraphs 5 and 6 end of its fi eld visits, a report to conducted a general tour of the of the text of Article 3 of Decree be submitted to the offi cial au- prison, and held private inter- Law No 17 of 2010 organising the thorities in Qatar and interna- views with detainees chosen by NHRC. tional human rights organisa- the team to obtain the necessary He said that the NHRC tions, including its observations information and data in relation aims, through its field visits, and recommendations on the to the measures taken by penal to promote and protect hu- precautionary measures fol- institutions department to pro- man rights, especially for the lowed by Qatar to prevent the tect inmates. inmates and detainees, and re- spread of the coronavirus (Cov- In a statement, Dr Mohamed spond to reports in accordance id-19) in penal institutions.

Thunderstorms forecast for today

hunderstorms are ex- aff ect Doha and most other areas on Monday. According to weath- pected in Doha and other of the country today and tomor- er charts, Al Wukair received Tplaces in the country to- row, accompanied by strong 23.5mm of rain on Monday, fol- day and tomorrow, the Qatar winds, hail and poor visibility at lowed by Ain Khalid at 22.5mm, Met department has said. times, the report states. Mukaynis at 21.4mm and Al In a report on social media The Met department has Sailiya at 20mm. yesterday, the department said urged everyone to take extra The conditions have also led unsettled weather conditions care in these conditions, avoid to a drop in temperature, with will continue aff ecting the coun- all marine activities and follow the minimum expected to range try due to the extension of a low- latest updates through its offi cial from 19C to 22C today and the The Ministry of Public Health has explained, through an The Ministry of Public Health has explained, through an pressure system over the region. social media accounts. maximum from 24C to 25C. In infographic on social media, the correct way to wash infographic on social media, the correct way to use an As a result, thunderstorms of The country had witnessed Doha, it will be 20C and 25C, re- hands with soap and water. alcohol-based hand sanitiser. variable intensity are expected to thunderstorms and heavy rain spectively. Page 20

Argentinian envoy all praise for Vodafone Qatar launches Qatar’s handling of Covid-19 crisis

By Carlos Hernandez ity in helping other countries new 5G Huawei P40 Pro Ambassador of Argentina to Qatar with equipment as well as fully equipped fi eld hospitals with the best technology to treat Covid-19 odafone Qatar has offi cially launched expressions, while AI Remove Passerby and he situation the world is in order to help them cope with the Huawei P40 Pro, ‘complete with AI Remove Refl ection allow for removing currently facing was un- this diffi cult situation. This shows Va unique design and an advanced Ul- unwanted passerby and glare from refl ec- Texpected. A deadly virus the clear vision of the Qatari au- tra Vision Leica camera system, along with tions. spread rapidly around the world, thorities, stressing on human sol- powerful 5G capabilities and features built The Huawei P40 Pro boasts a large ca- in over 200 countries, leading to idarity, under the guidance of His to deliver the ultimate 5G performance for pacity battery for all-day performance terrible consequences wherever Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim every kind of user’. along with support for TÜV Rheinland it reached - both from the hu- bin Hamad al-Thani. Equipped with the Huawei Quad-Curve safety-certified Huawei Wired 40W Su- man and economic perspectives. Argentina is around 13,000km Overfl ow Display, the Huawei P40 Pro is perCharge and Huawei’s fast wireless Almost 2mn people have been away from Qatar; but believe or not, inspired by the art of motion, curving the SuperCharge technology. Huawei Mobile infected while around 125,000 Ambassador Carlos Hernandez despite being almost at the end of display along all four edges for a borderless Services and Huawei AppGallery, one of have lost their lives (as of Tues- the world we are dealing with the look. Slim bezels and streamlined round try. The camera specs include a 50MP Ultra the top three app marketplaces globally, day night), and there is also high zens living and working in Qatar same diffi cult situation. At the same corners also allow for a more ergonomic Vision Wide camera, a 40MP Ultra-Wide comes with a wide range of global and lo- unemployment and recession- are well looked after and they are time, we had and still have thou- hold. Design innovations include a refrac- Cine camera, a 12MP 5x Optical Telephoto cal apps. like conditions in most of the in good hands. sands of Argentine tourists around tive matte fi nish in silver frost and a glossy camera and a time of fl ight (ToF) camera for The Huawei P40 Pro in black and silver countries aff ected. Hospitals, health profession- the world. They need and want fi nish in black. depth sensing. frost, retails for QR3,499 and comes with Within this sad scope, and as als, equipment, beds and medi- to fl y back home. While we were The Huawei P40 Pro is powered by the The SuperSensing SuperZoom lens gifts worth up to QR1,800, including 50GB the ambassador of Argentina, I cal facilities for quarantine are compelled to close our borders, Qa- Kirin 990 5G chipset, which delivers inte- system supports a more refined zoom- cloud storage for one year, Huawie Freebuds would like to fi rmly express my ready and well-organised. Eco- tar Airways was crucial for us and grated 5G connectivity with comprehensive ing experience, further complemented 3, Huawei Smart Scale, and six months deep appreciation for the pro- nomic decisions and on- time we worked closely together to take 5G band support along with robust artifi cial by OIS and AIS stabilisation. Additional screen damage Protection. fessional and effi cient way in preparations allowed supermar- them back home from South Asia, intelligence (AI) performance and power features include Ultra Slow-Motion vid- The smartphone is now available on which the Qatari authorities are kets and pharmacies to off er all Australasia and Europe through the effi ciency. eo, while the Ultra-Wide Cine camera al- Vodafone’s online store and at their retail dealing with this issue. that is necessary for the public ‘Doha corridor’. It provides support for 2G/3G/4G and lows for 4K Ultra High-Definition (UHD) stores located in City Center, Mall of Qatar, They took crucial preventive and without any stress. I want to express our grati- 5G networks in both 5G Non-Standalone time-lapse videos. Furousiya, Wakra, and Al Shafi . To ensure measures and issued legislation This is unusual compared to tude to the Qatari authorities (NSA) and Standalone (SA) modes. The front dual camera setup is perfect for the safety of its customers, Vodafone Qatar on time in order to be able to pro- what we are seeing in other parts who have always been support- The Ultra Vision Leica Quad Camera selfi es, group selfi es and even bokeh eff ects is also off ering free door-to-door delivery tect the health of Qatari citizens, of the world, including devel- ive in achieving that goal, and setup comes with the Huawei Ultra Vision and can also record 4K UHD videos with of every Huawei P40 Pro ordered. Custom- expatriates and the diplomatic oped countries. especially to HE Akbar al-Baker, Wide Camera sensor, one of the largest crisp details. AI Golden Snap uses AI algo- ers can request this service at www.voda- community. As Argentina’s am- Apart from that, Qatar without whom we wouldn’t have smartphone camera sensors in the indus- rithms to pick the best postures and facial fone.qa/delivery. bassador, I know Argentine citi- has shown its usual generos- been able to achieve it. Gulf Times Wednesday, April 15, 2020 3 QATAR Sony wins big at prestigious Red Dot Award 2020

ony announced that its Bravia 8K LED TV Other recipients of 2020 Red Dot: Product Design Sand Bluetooth noise- cancelling headphones have z The WF-1000XM3 truly September 2019, the WH- been awarded the prestig- wireless headphones: H910N comes in five trendy ious Red Dot Award: Product Launched in July 2019, the colour combinations teamed Design 2020. WF-1000XM3 truly brings with high quality sound to Widely described as the Os- a new generation truly excite fashion lovers. cars of the design industry, the wireless headphones with z The WH-H910N comes with Red Dot Award is one of the Sony’s Industry-leading Noise Dual Noise Sensor technology world’s largest and well-re- Cancellation. to eff ectively cancel ambient spected product design compe- z With further improved HD noise, improving the listening titions and judges the best prod- Noise Cancelling Processor experience. It has Adaptive ucts of the year from across the QN1e chip and Dual Noise Sound Control to automatically world. Sony Z8H TV Sony wireless headphones and other accessories. Sensor Technology, the WF- change the noise cancellation The Bravia Z8H 8K LED Se- 1000XM3 delivers exceptional settings anytime, anywhere. ries received the exceptional is administered by Design Zen- Winning products tick all power-packed with the most lises Picture Processor X1 noise cancelling performance, Paired with Quick Attention Red Dot: Best of the Best. Other trum Nordrhein Westfalen in the boxes: for innovation, immersive experience real- Ultimate to provide crisp, so users can hear just the mode, it has never been easier winners of the Red Dot include Germany. The product de- formal quality, ergonom- ised yet through enhanced high contrast, together with a music and nothing else. to reduce music volume the WF-1000XM3 truly wire- sign entries are judged by the ics, functionality, durability, picture quality, slim design full-array LED to bring more z The WH-H910N h.ear on and temporarily listen to less headphones, the WH- Red Dot Jury, which comprises product periphery, self-explan- and Sound-from-Picture Re- realistic peaks of brightness, 3 wireless noise-cancelling announcements without H910N h.ear on three wireless some 40 international experts, atory quality, ecological com- ality with Sony’s new Frame more accurate shadow detail headphones: Launched in removing the headphones. noise-cancelling headphones on nine criteria that are con- patibility, and symbolic and Tweeter technology. and deeper blacks than stand- and the DualShock 4Back stantly adapted to new tech- emotional content. Delivering Sony’s super ard LED TVs. Button Attachment. nical, social and ecological Announced at CES 2020, high 8K detail and life-like Moving into the new decade, tinue pursuing ideals of what a ring, inspiring visual experienc- The Red Dot Design Award requirements. the Bravia Z8H 8K LED comes picture quality, the Z8H uti- Sony Design endeavours to con- TV can be: A platform for stir- es, the possibilities limitless. Qatar’s eff orts in curbing Covid-19 spread stressed

xperts from the frontlines Medical Corporation (HMC), ment training, he shared details have been instituted for the best on the fi ght against the presented an overview of the of a future Red Crescent project possible outcomes. Enovel coronavirus (Cov- Qatar government’s key eff orts to promote social distancing Meanwhile, the GWA-Q sec- id-19) pandemic in the country to control the spread of the dis- awareness at grocery stores. retary underscored the impor- highlighted the eff orts of the ease through swiftly implement- Both Murad and Azad are tance of the discussion saying, Qatar government in controlling ed precautionary measures such graduates of Georgetown’s Ex- “Social media can be a great and preventing the spread of the as travel restrictions, offi cial ecutive Master’s in International source for trusted information, virus at a Georgetown University quarantines, and stay-at-home Emergency and Disaster Man- but unfortunately, there’s also a in Qatar (GU-Q) online panel directives. agement lot of misinformation out there. discussion. He detailed the robust eff orts Dr Lamyaa Bani-Murad, di- By hosting this event with fi g- The event, titled “Dealing to expand and fortify medical rector of the QF Primary Health ures directly involved in Qatar’s with Covid-19 in Qatar: A Pan- capacity, including the creation Care Centre, described the im- pandemic response, we hope to el Discussion,” was organised of a round-the-clock hotline portant safety precautions taken provide a valuable and needed and co-hosted by Georgetown and new quarantine facilities. in the clinic in line with ministry resource for the community.” Women’s Alliance Qatar (GWA- Another panellist, Abdulaziz guidelines. Co-host Dr Mahnaz Mousavi, Q) secretary Clare Wait, chief Murad, head of Emergency She noted that the clinic had director of Student Wellness and facilities management offi cer at Planning in the Health, Safety, recently introduced telemedi- Counseling Centre at GU-Q and GU-Q and attended by an audi- Security and Environment De- cine, or appointments conduct- co-chair of QWA-Q, helped in- ence representing universities partment Directorate at QF, de- ed over the phone, to protect the troduce the event and moderate across Education City and Qatar scribed the situation as a long community and ensure social the question and answer session Foundation (QF) partner insti- term crisis that requires plan- distancing protocols. that concluded the event. Panellists during the online event. tutions, and other members of ning for both the short and long Dr Bani-Murad thanked “This event falls in line with the public. term. GU-Q for providing an opportu- Georgetown’s dedication to pro- sion on the issues that directly gies that enhance opportunities tion and networking, aggrega- Faruk Mohamed Azad, assist- Speaking in his capacity as a nity to engage directly with the viding a platform that connects aff ect all of us,” she said. for women in the community. tion and communication about ant executive director for Busi- Red Crescent volunteer in dis- community, and to give needed decision-makers with the com- GWA-Q is a forum dedicated The GWA-Q facilitates sus- events and programming, and ness Development at Hamad aster response and manage- assurance that best practices munity, for dialogue and discus- to innovative ideas and strate- tained conversation, interac- leveraging of resources.

MADLSA holds Covid-19 Dental services limited to Smokers have awareness campaign emergency care for adults reduced immunity ental services are limited to urgent or emergency care Donly for adults during the against coronavirus, Covid-19 outbreak, the health au- thorities have announced. “In compliance with the Min- istry of Public Health (MoPH)’s says HMC expert directive to reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection spread, all routine appointments are can- mokers have consider- people sitting very close to each celled and services are limited ably reduced immunity other. In some cases, the same to urgent and emergency vis- Sagainst the novel corona- shisha is shared among a number In continuation of the eff orts exerted by the Ministry of Admin- its only during this period of virus (Covid-19), Dr Ahmed al- of persons. istrative Development, Labour and Social Aff airs (MADLSA) as the pandemic,” according to a Mulla, the director of Hamad “The preliminary out- part of the ‘Conscious’ campaign to raise awareness about the statement on the Hamad Den- Medical Corporation’s Centre comes of a recent survey coronavirus disease (Covid-19), inspectors from the Labour tal Center page of the Hamad for Combating Smoking, told conducted by the centre Inspection Department have conducted awareness and Medical Corporation website. Qatar TV. with the participation of inspection tours at shops and vehicle repair workshops to To be seen at the clinic, one “It is well established that around 8,000 Qataris and instruct the workers there on the need to follow precautionary must have one or more of these smoking is also linked to 80% of expatriates showed there and preventive measures to curb the spread of coronavirus, conditions: lung cancer cases, in addition to around 26% of smokers the MADLSA has said in a tweet. z Severe toothache pain (not blood vessels blockage, chronic among the total population just a twinge) respiratory diseases and vari- of the country. While 12% of z Swelling of gums, face or neck ous other annoying diseases,” he them smoke cigarettes, 6% z Bleeding in the mouth that pointed out. do shisha and 2% smoke e- does not stop Smokers, if infected with cigarettes among others. Inspections on outlets z Infection or a substantial Covid-19 could experience more “However, the high taxes risk of it deterioration of their respira- imposed on tobacco prod- in Al Daayen area z Trauma (such as a broken tory system and are likely to need ucts have contributed in re- tooth) intensive care. ducing the number of smok- “If your condition fi ts any of “In the wake of the spread ers and their consumption the above, please call 16000 to of Covid-19, Qatar has banned rates. arrange to be seen by a dentist,” shisha shops as they are also an “The centre will also the statement notes. ideal environment for the spread conduct a study on the “If you feel sick before com- must call the Covid-19 hotline, The Hamad Dental Center of other viral and bacterial infec- link between smoking and ing to the clinic (if you have 16000, fi rst for advice on how to page can be viewed at https:// tions due to the low standards of Covid-19 infections after symptoms of respiratory illness proceed,” it adds. www.hamad.qa/en/hospitals- hygiene. obtaining approval from such as fever, cough, shortness The MoPH has also issued an and-services/hamad-dental- “Such places are often con- the entities concerned,” Dr of breath and a sore throat), you infographic in this regard. services/pages/default.aspx gested with poor ventilation and al-Mulla added. MME conducts disinfection campaigns Q7 and Q8 models The Ministry of Municipality and Environment’s (MME) Municipal Services Aff airs conducted intensive campaigns to fight rodents and insects of 2019 recalled in various areas across the country, in addition to disinfection and sanitisation works of the diff erent The Ministry of Commerce and The MoCI has said that it will vital areas over the past two weeks. The campaign Industry (MoCI), in co-operation co-ordinate with the dealer to covered all the municipalities in Qatar to limit with Q-Auto, announced the follow up on the maintenance the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19). recall of Q7 and Q8, models of and repair works and will Meanwhile, the department carried out 4,443 2019, as the steering shaft bolt communicate with customers operations for fighting rodents and insects all is improperly tightened. to ensure that the necessary over the diff erent municipalities. Besides, 13,834 The ministry confirmed the repairs are carried out. containers designated for household garbage Al Daayen Municipality’s Health Control Section conducted recall campaign comes within It urges all customers to were sprayed with disinfectants. The department 403 inspection tours on various food outlets and facilities the framework of its ongoing report any violations to its used more than 86,000 litres of spraying within its jurisdiction during March. Four violation reports eff orts to protect consumers Consumer Protection and Anti- materials to disinfect and sanitise various areas were issued according to law No 8 for 1990 on the regulation and ensure that vehicle dealers Commercial Fraud Department, across the county within the past two weeks. The of human food control. The section also received 15 related follow up on defects and which processes complaints, working teams at such operations included 197 complaints, which were addressed immediately. repairs. inquiries and suggestions. persons. Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, April 15, 2020 QATAR

QIB holds blood donation campaign

atar Islamic Bank (QIB) has organ- ised a blood donation campaign, in Qassociation with Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Blood Donor Center, as part of eff orts led by Qatar’s healthcare authorities to secure the country’s blood supply. The campaign comes as part of QIB’s commitment to support the eff orts led by the country in its fi ght against the spread of the novel coronavirus (which causes the Covid-19 respiratory disease). QIB urged all their employees to visit HMC’s Blood Center to donate and enrich the blood bank’s supply, to ensure that Qa- tar does not face any shortages in the near future. Commenting on the initiative, QIB Group chief executive Bassel Gamal said: “At QIB, we have always made it a priority to commit to initiatives that benefi t society in Qatar, such as blood donations. “We create campaigns, whether internally amongst our employees, or externally for the wider community, to engage and encourage individuals to take the necessary steps that will enhance the overall well-being of our people.” He added: “As the country fi ghts the A QIB employee donating blood. spread of Covid-19, healthcare authorities have requested that citizens and residents sponse. Donating blood is a simple, noble in initiatives that benefi t society in Qatar. donate blood to help the cause. act that plays a big role in saving lives,” he HMC’s Blood Donor Center is in urgent “We wanted to fi nd a way to contribute, said. need of donations of blood types O+, O-, and therefore raised awareness of the need The campaign showcases the bank’s A-, B-, and AB-. amongst our employees.” continued commitment to engage with the The blood donation centre is located close “We are very proud of their generous re- community and strengthen its involvement to Hamad General Hospital. Doha Debates launches weekly series on Covid-19

By Joseph Varghese Staff Reporter Kia Telluride wins big at the oha Debates, part of Qatar Foundation, has launched a Dnew initiative, #DearWorld 2020 World Car Awards Live, an interactive livestream series, focusing on the present novel corona- virus (which causes the Covid-19 res- piratory disease) challenges that the Kia Telluride SUV crowned World Car of the Year world has to meet, and the diffi culties that the people around the globe are facing. A weekly livestreaming, #Dear- World Live will be telecast every Tues- day at 5pm Doha time. The fi rst session yesterday was on A moment from the premiere episode of #DearWorld Live yesterday. the various social media platforms of Doha Debates. Kalyani, a student of Carnegie Mellon Meanwhile, Mishra is a journalist The premiere episode examined University in Qatar, and Taha Kaleem, and human rights activist at the front the current situation in the world’s a student of Georgetown University in lines of the coronavirus crisis, buying second-most populous nation – India Qatar, also joined the session. and delivering food and supplies to – and how the country is coping with Prof Ghosh highlighted the situa- families in dire need in the Indian city the Covid-19 situation. tion in several parts of India and how of Bhopal. It focused on the world’s biggest the lockdown has aff ected the liveli- The programme aims to help young lockdown for 21 days, which has been hood of millions of people. people around the world navigate extended for another 19 days. Mishra said that there should be at- these diffi cult times and plan for the It also discussed the situation faced tempts to involve the private sector in post-coronavirus era. by millions of people, especially those the eff orts to help the poor, so that the Hedayat will be joined on #Dear- in the unorganised sectors, and daily assistance and support can reach the World Live by experts for enlighten- wagers. needy people faster. ing, solutions-focused conversations, Doha Debates correspondent Ne- Prof Ghosh is one of the world’s including questions and comments lufar Hedayat was the host, who was leading economists and a columnist from viewers around the world on each joined on the programme by Prof Jayati for the UK’s Guardian and several top episode of the programme. Ghosh and Ravi Mishra, both based in Indian newspapers, as well as a profes- The next episode of #DearWorld India. sor of economics at New Delhi’s Jawa- Live will be broadcast on April 21 at Two Qatar-based students, Joud harlal Nehru University. 5pm Doha Time.

ia Motors Corporation has won big at the 2020 The winners of the World Car Awards are decided World Car Awards with the Telluride SUV being by an independent international jury comprising 86 Knamed ‘World Car of the Year’ and the Soul EV experienced and well-respected automotive journalists ‘World Urban Car’. from 24 countries around the world. The Kia Telluride was rewarded by the judging panel “For Kia to be recognised with two World Car for its distinctive design and impressive practicality. The Awards this year is a remarkable achievement.” Added World Car of the Year title represents another accolade Yaser Shabsogh, Chief Operating Officer, Regional HQs, for a vehicle that has garnered more than 70 awards Middle East & Africa at Kia Motors Corporation. “This since its introduction in 2019. The SUV has already latest success signifies that the Kia brand is excelling been crowned North American Utility Vehicle of the and innovating in a rapidly changing automotive Year and MotorTrend SUV of the Year, among others. industry to produce models with enduring appeal for “Everyone at Kia is truly honored to receive not the modern motorist. just one, but two awards from the World Car of the From all at the Kia Motors MEA team, we Year judging panel,” said Thomas Schemera, Executive congratulate our dedicated and hard-working Vice President and Head of Product Division at Kia colleagues on this success and look forward to sharing Motors Corporation. “This is one of the hardest- many more great moments together.” he added. fought competitions in the global automotive industry, Available for the past year in Qatar and in many proving that the Telluride and Soul EV are both truly of Kia’s global markets, the Kia Telluride merges outstanding vehicles. These accolades are testament a strong exterior design presence with a spacious, to the talents and efforts of a worldwide team, who all practical and high-quality cabin which can seat up to strive to create desirable, high-quality and practical eight passengers. Equipped with an array of advanced cars that drivers love.” technologies, all-wheel drive, and driver-assistance systems, the Telluride is ideal for family adventures on and off the beaten track.

Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, April 15, 2020 REGION/ARAB WORLD

Algerian Rockets rain on Libyan capital Oman author wins reports 86 AFP been issued since. The latest Tripoli escalation comes as concern top Arab runs high over the spread of the new cases coronavirus pandemic in Libya, he forces of Libyan mili- where 25 cases and one death fi ction prize tary strongman Khalifa have been offi cially confi rmed. of Covid-19 THaftar rained rockets on The UN has warned that Tripoli yesterday after being health services in the country AFP ousted by unity government are already fragile and that many QNA Abu Dhabi loyalists from a string of stra- hospitals near fi ghting zones Muscat tegic towns west of the capital. south of Tripoli have been dam- The capture Monday of the aged or closed. lgerian author Abdeloua- coastal towns of Sorman and Adding to the misery, more he Omani Ministry of hab Aissaoui yesterday Sabratha and smaller settle- than 2mn residents of areas in Health announced yester- Awon a prestigious prize ments further south was seen and around Tripoli have for the Tday 86 new positive cases for Arabic fi ction with his novel as a major blow to Haftar, who past week been hit by water and of coronavirus (Covid-19) in the The Spartan Court. in April last year launched an power cuts, with the UN accus- Sultanate, bringing the total of Aissaoui will receive $50,000 off ensive to seize Tripoli. ing “armed groups” of cutting infections to 813 including four and funds will be provided to Sorman and Sabratha lie re- off supplies. deaths. translate the book into Eng- spectively 60 and 70 kilome- Fighting also raged yesterday The Ministry of Health also lish, the organisers said on tres west of the Libyan capital, south of the capital, a GNA mili- pointed out that 130 cases have their website. Published by Dar about half-way to the Tunisian tary source said. recovered, Oman News Agency Mim, The Spartan Court is a border. The oil-rich but pov- The GNA accused pro-Haftar (ONA) reported. In a statement, historical novel that relates the erty-stricken North African forces of pounding Tripoli in the ministry called upon all to power struggle between Otto- country has suff ered almost a revenge against the civilian adhere strictly to isolation pro- man and French colonial pow- decade of confl ict since long- population following Monday’s cedures and social distancing ers in Algeria at the start of the time dictator Muammar Gadd- losses. instructions as well as staying at 19th century. afi was toppled and killed in a A Libyan checks the site of shelling on the residential area of Arada in the capital Tripoli, yesterday. “The criminal militia and home and not going out unless Born in the northern Alge- 2011 uprising backed by several mercenaries have taken out their necessary. rian city of Djelfa in 1985, Ais- Western powers. ground to a bloody stalemate. and loud explosions could still suburbs, the capital’s sole and anger on residential neighbour- Oman’s fi nance ministry has saoui graduated in electrome- The UN says hundreds have Late Monday, salvo after be heard yesterday morning and only intermittently functioning hoods of Tripoli to avenge their told all government agencies to chanical engineering before been killed and more than salvo of rockets began rain- again in the afternoon, AFP cor- airport. defeat, fi ring dozens of rockets cut their operating budgets by devoting himself to writing, 200,000 displaced in the year ing down on Tripoli, where the respondents said. One person was wounded, and missiles on the capital in- at least 10% this year to counter penning several books and re- since Haftar launched his bat- UN-recognised Government of Several homes were hit around rescuers said late Monday. discriminately,” spokesman Mo- a slide in oil prices, including by ceiving many awards. tle for Tripoli, which quickly National Accord (GNA) is based, Mitiga airbase in the eastern No casualty updates have hamed Gnunu said. reviewing salaries and benefi ts, The Spartan Court “invites Reuters reported. the reader to gain a greater un- All operational budgets would derstanding of lives under occu- be reviewed and exceptional bo- pation and the diff erent forms of Getting ready for Ramadan nuses for state employees would resistance that grow against it,” be halted, according to the fi - said Muhsin al-Musawi, chair of Coronavirus deaths in nance ministry. It said the de- the prize’s fi ve-member judging A Palestinian cision applied to all ministries, panel. “With its deep, historical woman and her agencies and public entities, narrative structure, the novel daughter make Iran drop below 100 as well as security and military does not live in the past, but lanterns for sale bodies. rather it challenges the reader in preparation for KUWAIT REGISTERS 55 NEW INFECTIONS to question present reality,” he the holy month AFP ease were recorded in the past added, in remarks published on of Ramadan, Tehran 24 hours, bringing the overall The Kuwaiti Ministry of the IPAF website. as they confine toll to 4,683. Health yesterday reported 55 “The Spartan Court” was themselves to “Unfortunately, we lost 98 new Covid-19 infections and chosen from a shortlist of six their home amid ran said yesterday that the of our compatriots infected one fatality in the last 24 hours, novels. The fi ve other authors, concerns about number of lives lost in the with the disease... but after a bringing the total of infections to from Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon and the spread of Icountry to the novel coro- month of waiting, this is the 1,355 and deaths to three. Syria will each receive $10,000, the coronavirus navirus dropped to double fi rst day that the death toll has At a press briefi ng yesterday, the organisers said. disease, in the fi gures for the fi rst time in one been double fi gures,” he told a Kuwaiti Health Ministry spokes- They said one aim of the prize, southern Gaza month. televised news conference. person Dr Abdullah al-Sanad conceived in Abu Dhabi in 2007, is Strip, yesterday. Health ministry spokesman Jahanpour said another said that 26 patients were in in- to promote the translation of Ara- Kianoush Jahanpour said 98 1,574 were found to have been tensive care, with nine of them in bic literature into English. deaths from the Covid-19 dis- infected with the virus. critical condition and 17 stable. World Car of the Year: Porsche Taycan drives home a double victory As pandemic halts protests,

t this year’s World Car of the Chinese Car of the Year (CCOTY) jury • Best Performance Car of the Year: Year Awards 2020 (WCOTY), Auto Express magazine (UK) Algerians turn to ‘Radio Corona’ • German Car of the Year: German Car Athe Porsche Taycan saw the of the Year (GCOTY) jury. • Best Driver’s Cars: Motor Trend checkered flag first in two categories: “We are so happy to have been magazine (USA) AFP winning as World Luxury Car and awarded these accolades. They • The China Performance Car of the Tunis World Performance Car of the Year. reflect the positive feedback from our Year: Chinese Car of the Year (CCOTY) In the performance category, it customers and are a great incentive for jury. succeeded in a historic triple against lgerians stuck in pandemic our future work,” says Oliver Blume, Speaking about the awards the the 911 and the 718 Spyder/Cayman lockdown and dismayed with Chairman of the Executive Board of new Porsche 911 has won, Blume said: GT4. Furthermore, the electric sports Atheir government are tuning Porsche AG. “We see ourselves as “The 911 has kept us on the road to into an irreverent online broadcaster car also won World Luxury Car. 86 pioneers of sustainable mobility and success for almost 60 years, thanks to that is keeping their protest spirit international automotive journal-ists have brought an emotive as well as alive: Radio Corona Internationale. voted and assessed over 50 new cars. Created in an expatriate’s dining The winners were announced during room in the United States, RCI off ers an online conference by the WCOTY a cocktail of political talk, caustic hu- organization. mour and popular music to give listen- Michael Steiner, Member of ers rare moments of freedom amid the the Executive Board, Research and gloom of confi nement. Development, commented on the The one-hour show airs live via Fa- awards: “This double win in the cebook on Tuesdays and Fridays, the An empty street in the capital of Algeria, a country in lockdown as a measure categories World Performance Car and weekdays when “Hirak” anti-gov- against Covid-19 which has claimed almost 300 lives. World Luxury Car underlines what ernment protesters would take to the streets for the past year until organis- health crisis that has claimed almost veterinarian, and who now works from we wanted to achieve when we devel- ers suspended the rallies because of 300 lives in Algeria. a basic home studio consisting of a PC, oped the Taycan. We wanted to create Covid-19. Benadouda is a former public radio a mobile phone and a speaker. a driver-focused, fully electric sports Its host is well-known Algerian journalist and presenter of the off beat “This programme is driven by our car that can take on any performance broadcaster Abdellah Benadouda, 49, news show “Systeme Dz” on the pri- deepest state of mind: freedom,” said car. At the same time, we focused on who fl ed his homeland in 2014 after vate channel Dzair TV. the self-exiled journalist. uncompromised everyday usability falling out with the powerful inner cir- He left Algeria fearing retribution Contributors include Algerian col- and contemporary, digital luxury cle around former president Abdelaziz after a dispute with Dzair TV, which umnists dispersed as far as Paris and and comfort for four passengers. We Boutefl ika. “I missed the revolution,” is owned by Ali Haddad, a powerful Doha, while the playlist features pop- are delighted that the WCOTY jury says Benadouda with regret, referring businessman who was seen as close to ular protest anthems and politically rewards these efforts.” to last year’s unprecedented popular the Boutefl ika clan and who is now in sensitive rap. Long list of awards uprising that ended the two-decade prison for corruption. The programme is characterised by highly innovative sports car to the road its distinctive de-sign. When a child reign of the ailing leader. RCI operates much like a pirate radio comical puns and a jovial tone, but its The vote for World Car of the with the Taycan – fully electric and 100 draws a picture of a sports car, it often Since then, the protests had contin- station, with the freedom to interact message is serious — a recent show Year continues a winning streak: the percent Porsche.” resembles a 911. We have continuously ued, demanding the wider dismantling with its audience and improvise live was dedicated to Karim Tabbou, an Porsche Taycan and new 911, which The Porsche 911 was a two-time and consistently developed its unique of the political “system” that has held on air. emblematic fi gure of the anti-regime was launched last year, have already winner in auto, motor und sport technical concept. With the engine in a tight grip on the North African coun- Listeners are invited to send text movement who is now in prison. won around 40 interna-tional prizes. Another show discussed the shut- magazine (Ger-many) readers’ choice the back and the ignition key on the try — until the pandemic put a halt to and audio messages for broadcast on For the Porsche Taycan, these include: them last month. the programme, which is recorded down of online media sites Maghreb for Best Cars, once as a Coupé and once left, the 911 has become an icon and Benadouda said that ever since the in a mixture of colloquial Arabic and Emergent and Radio M, one of whose • Car of the Year: Top Gear magazine as a Cabriolet. Other awards include: the benchmark that every sports car is (UK) Hirak movement started in February French, the language of the former co- hosts, Khaled Drareni, has been in • Auto Trophy: readers’ choice of the measured against.” 2019, “only my body is here in Provi- lonial power. preventive detention since March 29, • The China Green Car of the Year: Auto Zeitung magazine (Germany) dence,” the capital of the US state of “Dear coronists, we give you the shortly after he had covered an Algiers Rhode Island. fl oor to tell us about your confi nement demonstration. The online station is “a way to rein- or ask us questions or criticise us,” “It is in adversity that we remain vent the Hirak in the time of confi ne- RCI’s Facebook page reads. united,” Benadouda said on air last Fri- ment,” he said, vowing to keep broad- It’s a “very democratic” concept, day. casting even after the end of the public said Benadouda, who is also a trained “The state must understand this.”

Ship boarded by armed men released

Reuters in the vicinity to remain vigilant. vessel was shown to be underway to- Dubai UKMTO had earlier said the ves- wards the Iranian coastline. sel had been at anchor around three At 14:28UTC the vessel was shown nautical miles (nm) off Ras Al Kuh. to be stationary at a position 4nm off rmed men boarded a vessel at Maritime security firm Dryad Glo- Mogh-e Qanbareh-ye Kuh Mobarak,” anchor in the Gulf of Oman yes- bal separately tweeted that a Hong Dryad’s report said. Aterday but the ship was later re- Kong-flagged vessel had been re- It said the vessel was “highly like- leased, the United Kingdom Maritime leased. ly to be the vessel of concern”, but Trade Operations (UKMTO) said. It earlier said the ship had been at added that it was “unclear whether “Vessel and crew are safe,” it said in anchor waiting to approach Jubail the vessel is in distress or is being as- an updated advisory, urging all vessels in Saudi Arabia. “At 12:48 UTC the sisted by Iran in some way”. Gulf Times Wednesday, April 15, 2020 7 AFRICA

ACCIDENT VORACIOUS PEST LIGHTS OUT DISEASE SOCIAL STIGMA 10 dead as boat sinks Second locust invasion Uganda loses all power WHO panel on Ebola meets Nigeria slams ‘unacceptable’ in DR Congo river threatens East Africa after weeds clog dams after new DR Congo case treatment of citizens in China

Ten bodies have been recovered from a river in The International Committee of the Red Cross Uganda yesterday lost power countrywide after The WHO said its emergency committee would Nigeria yesterday condemned as “extremely central Democratic Republic of Congo after a (ICRC) yesterday warned that new swarms weeds clogged the intake of water at its three meet to discuss whether the Ebola outbreak in the distressing” and “unacceptable” accounts that boat capsized, the authorities in Kasai province of desert locusts could have devastating largest hydropower dams which generate most Democratic Republic of the Congo still constitutes Nigerian citizens in China had been maltreated said yesterday. The accident on Monday on the consequences for people in East Africa. “The of the country’s electricity, the Ministry of Energy an international health emergency, after fresh cases because of the coronavirus pandemic. “There Lumbembe River “sadly cost the lives of 10 people outbreak of desert locusts cannot be forgotten said in a statement. “We have lost generation were detected. The meeting comes a day after DR were videos circulating on social media of and others (are) missing,” provincial governor in the race against Covid-19,” said John Karongo, nationwide,” the Ministry of Energy said on Congo had been expected to announce that the very disturbing scenes and incidents involving Dieudonne Pieme told AFP. “We hauled out 10 regional agronomist for the ICRC, in a statement. its Facebook page. “The water weed island outbreak in the east of the country that began in Nigerians in the city of Guangzhou,” Foreign bodies that were floating in the river. The search is Spurred on by ideal moist conditions, swarms migrated last night and has caused choking/ August 2018 was over. The epidemic has killed 2,276 Minister Geoffrey Onyeama said during a continuing (...) but given the water levels, there is no of desert locusts have been attacking entire clogging of intake gates for Nalubaale, Kiira people to date. For it to be declared over, there have meeting with Chinese ambassador Zhou hope of finding survivors,” said Franck Mbuta, police areas of East Africa for months. The desert and Bujagali and the three have tripped.” The to be no new cases reported for 42 days — double Pingjian in his office in Abuja. Onyeama chief in Nsumbula. The overladen boat was carrying locust is among the most dangerous migratory ministry said it was working to restore power the incubation period. “We now have three cases, said it appeared that Nigerians were being more than 20 people at the time, a local NGO off icial pests in the world: A square-kilometre swarm from alternative power plants. “Power agencies two people who have died, one person who is alive,” discriminated against at hotels and restaurants said. The accident happened at Nsumbula, a town can consume the equivalent of food for 35,000 are working around the clock to ensure power is WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told reporters and being stigmatised as supposed carriers of some 140km from the provincial capital Tshikapa. people in one day. on and running,” the ministry said. in a virtual briefing in Geneva yesterday. Covid-19.

‘Starve or get sick’: Africa’s dilemma in Coronavirus cases Covid-19 lockdown

AFP Nairobi

omen and children fell to the ground, bloodied and rise across Africa trampled in a desperate surge for food being handed Wout in a Nairobi slum, as police fi red teargas and Reuters/AFP/DPA another 21 days,” Museveni said workers across Africa to fi ght men with sticks beat the hungry. Johannesburg/Nairobi yesterday, hours before the initial coronavirus. As African countries grapple with the coronavirus pan- 14-day lockdown was due to end. The arrangement, which re- demic, observers warn that the traumatic scenes which played The extra days, he said, “will lies on cargo services provided out last Friday will not be the last if governments fail to help outh Africa’s health minis- defi nitely, help us to defeat this by Ethiopian Airlines, could also millions of urban poor who live hand-to-mouth. ter yesterday reported a rise virus decisively, or if not defeated partially off set heavy losses Af- “I give them (the government) one to two weeks before things Sin coronavirus cases of 143 totally, to prepare better as to how rica’s largest carrier is sustaining get worse. Not in terms of coronavirus, but in terms of hunger,” over the past day, taking the total to cope with it.” Uganda has so far because of the pandemic. said Kennedy Odede, who runs Shining Hope For Communities to 2,415. Health Minister Zwelini recorded a total of 54 coronavirus An initial shipment of 3,000cu (SHOFCO), a grassroots movement which works in the Nairobi Mkhize provided no update on cases but no deaths. Eight pa- m of supplies — most of it person- slum Kibera and other informal settlements in Kenya. “If it the number of deaths, which a day tients have recovered. al protective equipment for health continues like this, we might be playing with fi re.” earlier stood at 27. Under the lockdown all busi- workers — will be distributed Kenya has so far cordoned off the capital and parts of its coast- The total number of tests con- nesses are shut down except those within the next week, said Steven line and imposed a night-time curfew and other social distanc- ducted so far was 87,022. “We still deemed most essential, such as Were Omamo, Ethiopia country ing measures. Many of these restrictions are having a wrenching have a long way to go,” he told a People run away as a South African Police Services armoured vehicle utilities and food markets. director for the World Food Pro- impact, causing loss of jobs among the poor, said Odede. news conference at Johannesburg approaches during clashes yesterday with residents of Tafelsig, an Movement has been virtually gramme (WFP). While President Uhuru Kenyatta has wielded the threat of a airport. “This is not a sprint, this impoverished suburb in Mitchells Plain, near Cape Town, after some frozen with bans on both private “This is a really important plat- full lockdown to get citizens to comply with the rules, offi cials is a marathon.” people in the community did not receive food parcels which were and public transport vehicles form in the response to Covid-19, admit it is an agonising choice, especially as 60% of Nairobi’s He added that a donation of being handed out as part of the support for this community during the while a dusk-to-dawn curfew has because what it does is it allows us residents live in slums. “Locking up people in the slums will equipment from China that had nation wide lockdown to curb the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus. been imposed. to move with speed and effi ciency be the last option. A lot needs to be done before that,” a high- just landed would help South Af- In Guinea, President Alpha to respond to the needs as they are ranking security offi cial told AFP on condition of anonymity. rica “in fi ghting this invisible en- Several African countries have Africa’s most industrialised na- Conde decided to make the wear- unfolding,” Omamo said, refer- The coronavirus arrived late in Africa, but is slowly taking emy called Covid-19”. demanded that China address tion still has the most confi rmed ing of masks compulsory in a bid ring to the disease caused by the hold with over 15,000 cases and 800 deaths across the conti- These included 10,000 N95 their concerns that Africans, in coronavirus cases on the conti- to curb the spread of coronavirus. coronavirus. nent. While much of the developed world waited weeks to be- masks and disposable gloves, particular in the southern city of nent, which has registered a total Speaking in a televised ad- The Addis gateway is one of gin taking action, countries in Africa rapidly shut borders and 50,000 surgical disposable masks Guangzhou, are being mistreated of 5,741 so far. dress on Monday evening, the eight global humanitarian hubs banned mass gatherings. Mauritius, Rwanda and Tunisia were — enough for about 6-8 weeks — and harassed. In Kampala, President Yow- president said off enders would be set up to facilitate movement of the fi rst to impose full lockdowns — with Mauritius going so as well as 2,000 medical protec- Cases of Covid-19 — the respi- eri Museveni yesterday extended “prevented from moving around” aid to fi ght Covid-19, according far as to shut supermarkets and bakeries for 10 days. tive gowns and goggles. ratory disease caused by the new Uganda’s initial 14-day lockdown and slapped with a civil disobedi- to WFP. South Africa is the biggest economy on the continent to At the same news conference, coronavirus — in South Africa are by an extra three weeks, until May 5. ence tax of 30,000 Guinean francs In Africa, there are also hubs in completely confi ne its citizens, while Nigeria imposed lock- foreign minister Naledi Pandor creeping up, but not at the explo- Uganda and Rwanda have im- ($3.16). The order takes eff ect Ghana and South Africa. downs on Lagos — the continent’s largest city — and its capital said she was aware of complaints sive rate that was initially feared. posed a total lockdown in their from Saturday. As of yesterday there were Abuja, which on Monday were extended for another two weeks. of allegedly racist treatment of The rate of new infections has fi ght in east Africa’s most strin- In another development yes- 15,249 Covid-19 cases across Both have millions of people packed tightly in urban slums. South Africans in China, and that slowed signifi cantly since Presi- gent response to the infection. terday, Ethiopia and the United the continent resulting in 816 “The inevitable reaction has been to follow what the rest of “we believe we can accept the dent Cyril Ramaphosa ordered a “Given...the challenges that re- Nations opened a humanitar- deaths, according to the Africa the world is doing,” said Jakkie Cilliers at the Pretoria-based commitment of...China to ad- nationwide lockdown on March 27 main, the government has decided ian transport hub at Addis Ababa Centres for Disease Control and Institute for Security Studies (ISS), who has called for Afri- dress these concerns”. and extended it to the end of April. to keep the stay-home decision for airport to move supplies and aid Prevention. cans to come up with a “unique solution” to stave off the virus. “A lockdown is unenforceable and unsustainable across much of Africa. You are trying to do something that is not possible and you are condemning people to a choice between starving and getting sick. Zimbabwe threatens 20 years jail over fake lockdown statement “It’s not possible for 10 people living in a tin shack...to not go outside for three weeks.” In sub-Saharan Africa, Liberia and Zimbabwe have also im- Reuters diately denied by the government, Paul Nyathi said more than 5,000 Human Rights (ZLHR) group said saulting people ordering them posed full lockdowns. Harare was fake. people had been arrested for ven- this had resulted in an increase to stay indoors,” ZLHR said in a However most nations across the continent have stopped “That is absolutely nonsense, turing outside their homes with- in cases of residents being beaten statement. short of forcing all of their citizens to stay indoors. I have never made such a state- out permission. by security forces for defying the Zimbabwe’s security forces Madagascar and Ghana have completely locked down se- imbabwe’s President Em- ment,” Mnangagwa said. “If we Mnangagwa said his cabinet lockdown. have a history of using heavy lected regions and towns, while Senegal, Mauritania, Guinea, merson Mnangagwa yes- catch this person it must be ex- would meet this week to decide Police spokesman Nyathi said handed tactics when enforcing Mali, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Niger have imposed states Zterday threatened 20 years emplary and they must go in for at whether to end, adjust or extend police had not received any offi - the law and against opponents of of emergency and night-time curfews. in jail to the author of a statement least at level 14, which is 20 years the 21-day lockdown. cial complains of abuse from resi- the government. Like Kenya, Benin has cordoned off key cities — prevent- purporting to bear his signature imprisonment. That, I think we The authorities have said three dents. In an editorial on Monday, the ing movement in and out — while the capitals of Ivory Coast, that said the lockdown to con- need to demonstrate that we don’t people have died and 17 people ZLHR has approached the High state-owned Herald newspaper Burkina Faso and Niger are also cut off . tain the coronavirus outbreak had want false news to be circulated.” have been infected in the country Court on behalf of two Zim- criticised the police for harass- Ethiopia, with a population of over 100mn, has closed bor- been extended. The southern African nation of 15mn people. babweans who said they were ing journalists doing their work ders and schools and discouraged large gatherings, but has yet Mnangagwa, who was speaking last month published lockdown Just over 600 people had been abused by security forces. during the lockdown, including to restrict citizens’ movement. at his farm after touring Gweru regulations, which included jail tested by Monday night. “This application seeks an forcing some to delete pictures “We can’t impose a lockdown like more developed nations, city in central Zimbabwe, told terms of up to 20 years for people In the past week, Zimbabwe has order to protect residents from and video that captured abuses by as there are many citizens who don’t have homes,” said Prime state broadcaster ZBC the state- who spread falsehoods regarding deployed the army to help the po- heavy-handed action by police security forces. Minister Abiy Ahmed. ment, which circulated on social the outbreak. lice enforce the restrictions. and soldiers who are invading Nyathi said he was not aware of “Even those who have homes have to make ends meet daily.” media last week and was imme- National police spokesman The Zimbabwe Lawyers for peoples homes/yards and as- the incidents. Unrest fears rise as Nigeria’s Lagos extends lockdown

By Joel Olatunde Agoi, Sophie But residents in the usually Inhabitants in the overcrowded there are not enough offi cers to Bouillon and Max Delany, AFP frenetic economic hub of 20mn, neighbourhoods of Lagos’ poor protect them — and insist the Lagos where more then half rely on — where millions live squeezed government needs to do more to daily earnings to survive, com- together — are no strangers to support people fi nancially. plain they have been left facing gang violence as criminals fre- “Millions of Nigerians observ- us driver Christian did crippling economic hardship and quently fi ght for upper hand. ing the Covid-19 lockdown lack not sleep at all last night rising crime. But Chioma Okoro, who has the food and income that their Bafter Nigeria’s President In recent days, inhabitants in bunkered down in her home in families need to survive,” Ani- Muhammadu Buhari ordered an a string of districts across Lagos the Agege district, said insecurity etie Ewang, Nigeria researcher extension to the lockdown in his and neighbouring Ogun state had grown in the past two weeks at Human Rights Watch, said in a sprawling home city Lagos to halt have reported a surge in gang at- and ratcheted up dramatically statement. the coronavirus. tacks. over the weekend. “The government needs to A few hours before the an- “The criminals have been tak- “Now it’s 10 times worse,” she combine public health measures nouncement on Monday ing undue advantage of the lock- told AFP. with eff orts to prevent the pan- evening, word spread that over a down to dispossess people of their She had tried to go out with demic from destroying the lives hundred youths from a criminal valuables,” community leader her husband to get supplies but and livelihoods of society’s poor- gang were swarming through his Mufu Gbadamosi told AFP. dashed back when she saw a est and most vulnerable people.” neighbourhood of Alimosho on a He has organised people in his group of young men brandishing Lagos state authorities are robbing spree. Agbado area of Lagos into groups iron bars, machetes, and home- handing out food to 200,000 “Everybody was scattering for to man checkpoints and screen made fi rearms. households and President Buhari their lives. We ran away and I locked people coming into their neigh- “I was hearing gunshots yes- has pledged freezes on loan re- myself inside the house,” he told bourhood after dark. terday evening, I was so scared,” payments and expanded welfare AFP, refusing to give his surname. “We shall continue to hold the she said. payments. “When it was calmer, with the night vigil until the end of the re- Nigeria’s police says it has dis- For Blessing Asaba, those men on my street, we organised striction,” he told. patched extra forces to deal with promises have meant nothing. ourselves. We didn’t sleep all Local resident Dotun Alabi the trouble and arrested some A few days ago she was robbed night. We prepared weapons, col- said it was the hunger and des- 200 suspects. as she headed to buy produce to Locals stand at the gate to keep watch following attacks by armed bandits capitalising on the lockdown in lected knives, what we could fi nd.” peration caused by the lockdown “A special police squad headed sell on her market stall at Obal- Lagos yesterday. The authorities insist that ex- that appeared to be pushing peo- by a deputy inspector general ende on Lagos Island. tending the shutdown in Africa’s ple into crime. has deployed to ensure security “I have to pay school fees, I “More than 100mn and some- ing her mother’s stall across the ing poverty, hunger — we don’t biggest city to one month is vi- “When we arrested two boys, of lives and properties in the af- have to pay rent where I am stay- thing Nigerians are living like road, trying to earn enough from have anything to eat,” she said. tal to stop a virus that has so far they told us that they took to rob- fected communities,” spokesman ing — where will I get the money this — and now there is robbery the customers still out on the “It’s not fair at all. Things are caused 343 confi rmed infections bery in order to fi nd something to Bala Elkana told AFP. from?” she asked as she stood by everywhere.” streets to make ends meet. really going to get bad for peo- and 10 deaths in Nigeria. eat,” he said. But residents complain that her pile of plantains. Student Alice Agbo was tend- “The lockdown is really caus- ple.” Gulf Times 8 Wednesday, April 15, 2020 AMERICAS

Canada toll tops 800, economic Trump’s May 1 target shutdown to last for weeks more

Reuters too optimistic: Fauci Ottawa Trump speaks of mutiny re-election on November 3, lashed as Cuomo stands by states’ out at Democratic state governors, anada’s economic shutdown will last for Constitutional rights suggesting they were “mutineers” weeks more to ensure that measures to fi ght after New York’s Andrew Cuomo Cthe coronavirus are working, Prime Minister Reuters said he would refuse any order by Justin Trudeau said yesterday, while the country’s Washington the president to reopen the econo- death toll from the outbreak rose more than 12%. my too soon. Trudeau also told a daily briefi ng that he would “If he ordered me to reopen in have more to say shortly about a promised aid pack- resident Donald Trump’s a way that would endanger the age for the oil and gas industry, which has been hard May 1 target for restarting public health of the people of my hit. He did not give details. Pthe economy is “overly opti- state, I wouldn’t do it,” Cuomo Authorities across Canada have ordered a shut- mistic,” his top infectious disease told CNN early in the day, refer- down of non-essential businesses, throwing millions adviser said yesterday, after a battle ring to Trump. of people out of work. erupted between Trump and state At a news conference later, Cuo- The jobless rate is set to soar to 25% from around governors over who has the power mo said Trump was “clearly spoil- 6% before the crisis struck. to lift restrictions aimed at curbing ing for a fi ght on this issue” and that “Everyone is very interested to know when things the coronavirus pandemic. he did not want a partisan battle, are going to get back to normal, when they’ll be able Anthony Fauci, head of the Na- but added: “We don’t have a king to go back to work...it is going to be weeks still. We tional Institute of Allergy and In- in this country, we have a Constitu- recognise that it is going to be important to get our fectious Diseases, said public health tion and we elect the president.” economy going and we will have to do it in phases,” offi cials must be able to test for the The coronavirus restrictions Trudeau said. virus quickly, isolate new cases and have crippled the US economy, with “We are having ongoing discussions with the prov- track down new infections before businesses forced to close and mil- inces...about how we are going to reopen the econo- social-distancing restrictions can lions of Americans becoming un- my. It’s just that it’s going to be a while still.” be eased. employed, in a development that As if to underline the extent of the challenge, the Trump’s administration has rec- could hurt Trump’s re-election province of Ontario yesterday extended a shutdown ommended stay-at-home guide- prospects. for another 28 days. lines through the end of April, and The US death toll from Covid-19, It had been due to expire on April 23. the president has fl oated May 1 as the respiratory illness caused by A family applauds in front of the Mount Sinai Hospital in Queens next to a police car to show gratitude to medical Public health offi cials said 823 people had died of a possible date to start reopening the virus, stood yesterday at nearly staff and essential workers working on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic in New York City. Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel some areas. 25,300, out of more than 600,000 coronavirus, up from 734 on Monday. The number of That date may be “a bit overly known US infections. crats appeal to his conservative po- sisting “the president of the United have fallen for the fi rst time since positive diagnoses rose to 26,163 from 24,804. optimistic,” Fauci, who has become Off ering an expansive assess- litical base, posted tweets attacking States calls the shots.” the pandemic’s onset, Cuomo said, The offi cials said they were particularly worried a trusted national fi gure during the ment of the powers of the presi- Cuomo individually and Democrat- “The governors know that,” adding: “We think we are at the about residences for the elderly, where around half pandemic, said in an interview with dency, Trump had on Monday as- ic governors in general. Trump told a Monday evening apex on the plateau.” the deaths have occurred. the Associated Press. serted he has “total” authority to “Tell the Democrat Governors briefi ng. Cuomo said 778 New Yorkers Ontario and Quebec — the two most-populous “We have to have something in decide on reopening the economy that ‘Mutiny On The Bounty’ was But governors were moving for- died in the past day, up from 671 provinces — promised extra resources. place that is effi cient and that we even though he earlier had deferred one of my all time favorite mov- ward with their planning. Oregon a day earlier that had marked the “We’re dealing with a wildfi re in our long-term can rely on, and we’re not there to the governors in putting social- ies,” the Trump wrote yesterday on Governor Kate Brown, a Democrat, lowest daily toll since April 5. care homes,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford told a brief- yet,” Fauci added. distancing orders in place. Twitter, referring to a classic fi lm yesterday off ered her own frame- A total of 10,834 New Yorkers ing, saying 14% of all residences had recorded cases. Fauci, who frequently appears Cuomo, a Democrat whose state about a rebellion against the com- work for eventually restarting pub- have died due to Covid-19. Quebec Premier Francois Legault said his province with Trump at White House coro- has been the epicentre of the US manding offi cer of a British naval lic life and business in the state. David Reich, president of New was short about 1,250 workers in the long-term care navirus briefi ngs, has previously outbreak, and governors of six vessel in the late 18th century. Some Republicans, including the York’s Mount Sinai Hospital, said network. contradicted Trump on issues in- other northeastern states have an- “A good old fashioned mutiny governors of Ohio, Maryland and even if hospital admissions there “We are deploying more professionals from the cluding an unproven treatment nounced plans to formulate a re- every now and then is an exciting New Hampshire, also said states had levelled off , it still remains an hospitals to the residences, but we’re still lacking touted by the president. gional plan to gradually lift restric- and invigorating thing to watch, have the right to decide when and extraordinary time of strain for staff staff . I’m asking everybody available...to come for- Trump on Sunday reposted on tions. especially when the mutineers need how to reopen. and resources. ward,” he told a briefi ng. Twitter a call by a conservative po- On the Pacifi c Coast, the gov- so much from the Captain. Too The political posturing coincided “The plateau is not a very com- Trudeau said Ottawa was prepared to help pay the litical fi gure calling for Fauci’s fi ring ernors of California, Oregon and easy!” Trump wrote. with fresh signs the pandemic has fortable place to live,” Reich said in salaries of workers in long-term care facilities. but the president later denied plans Washington state announced a Trump rejected the idea that gov- been slowing in New York and other a telephone interview. “So I don’t He also said authorities would have to be cautious to dismiss his adviser. similar regional approach. ernors should determine when and early hot spots even as the death toll think people should be celebrating about fully lifting the restrictions on the economy Trump, a Republican running for Trump, whose attacks on Demo- how to reopen state economies, in- mounts. New York hospitalizations prematurely.” until a vaccine had been developed. Rule-breaking reporting As virus tears through reservation, Navajos give lifeline to elders, families goes online in Montreal Police in Montreal, hoping to cut down on By Andrew Hay, Reuters “This is what we’re here for, as young peo- The Bureau of Indian Aff airs, the federal families, grandmas and grandpas, fi rst it’s emergency calls, have launched a new online Shiprock, New Mexico ple, to be able to sacrifi ce ourselves, sacrifi ce government agency which provides basic you and then it’s your children and older chil- tool enabling the public to report violations of the our well-being, so that more people don’t services to Native Americans, did not respond dren, and multiple generations are being hit,” government’s Covid-19 social distancing rules in get sick,” said Kim Smith, 36, who drives the to repeated requests for comment about the Crotty said. the Canadian city. o the sound of birdsong on rolling grass- group’s blue Dodge Ram pickup truck and federal response to the coronavirus outbreak Seeing quarantined families running out of The website of the city’s police service directs land, a pickup truck crawls up a dirt track runs the relief operation from a farm in Hog- in the Navajo Nation. food, former Navajo Nation Attorney General users to a link for reporting situations “related Tto bring fi rewood and food to a Navajo back, New Mexico. Navajo Nation president Jonathan Nez, Ethel Branch set up a GoFundMe page. to non-compliance with government guidelines family of seven whose father died of the coro- The pandemic has shown stark inequali- who has criticized the pace and scale of the The Navajo & Hopi Families Covid-19 and measures.” “The report may relate to, for navirus hours earlier. Five young relief workers, ties in healthcare, housing and basic services federal response to the coronavirus, had said Relief Fund has raised over $600,000 and example, a prohibited gathering, non-compliance wearing masks and gloves, unload the provisions between the Navajo Nation and the states last week that rapid test kits from Abbott helped more than 850 families. with sanitary or social distancing measures in at the door for the now quarantined family. of New Mexico, Utah and Arizona, which it Laboratories would soon become available at The fund reimburses groups like Smith’s a business or the operation of a non-essential It is the fi rst death the mostly female volun- straddles, according to six tribal leaders in- Indian Health Service (IHS) and tribal clinics. for supplies they take to families. business,” it says. teers said they had been called to in this north- terviewed by Reuters. Dr Deborah Birx, coronavirus response “Our population of Native Americans is It adds that calls to the 911 emergency line ern area of the nation, the largest Native Ameri- Covid-19 fatalities on the reservation last coordinator for the White House taskforce, very low, and if this continues, our numbers or contact with local police stations are not can reservation in the United States. The family, week overtook those recorded in the entire had told reporters on April 2 that IHS clin- are going to drop even more,” said 19-year- necessary if a report is filed online. who live on the plains south of Shiprock, asked state of New Mexico, according to health au- ics would be among the fi rst locations to get old Matthew Duncan, an Arizona State Uni- Police spokesman Andre Durocher told AFP the that their names and location not be used. thority fi gures. the kits as they had some of the least access to versity student, as cars drove by and honked goal is to free up 911 operators to focus on more Like African-Americans and Hispanics in As of April 11, there had been 24 deaths on testing in the country. their horns. urgent calls. the United States, Navajos are suff ering a dis- the reservation and 20 in New Mexico, which The Navajo Epidemiology Center says the Back at the homestead below the Chuska He said it wasn’t meant to encourage people to proportionately high rate of coronavirus fa- has more than 10 times the population. close proximity of families living in home- Mountains, the family must sanitize their “inform” on others. “We don’t want people to talities, twice the national per capita rate, ac- Navajo authorities have set curfews, asked steads or public housing has driven commu- home, learn how to isolate, and follow Navajo spend the day at their window watching what their cording to Navajo Department of Health data. the federal government for fi eld hospitals, nity spread. tradition not to speak of the dead father for neighbour is doing. That is not the goal of this The tribe, who refer to themselves as the and transported Covid-19 patients to neigh- Another factor is travel. As big as West Vir- four days to allow his spirit to pass on unin- exercise,” he said, adding it was only intended to Diné, has high rates of diabetes, heart disease bouring states for critical care, given a lack of ginia, the reservation has only 13 small gro- terrupted. ensure that the rules are respected. and obesity — underlying conditions that in- ventilators. cery stores and around 40% unemployment. The father, in his forties, died in a Farming- Like their counterparts elsewhere in Quebec, the crease risk of severe complications from Cov- “It’s just shedding light on the disparities That forces residents to drive hundreds ton hospital. Montreal police have instructions to crack down id-19, according to the US Centers for Disease that have already existed and also the lack of of miles to cities such as Farmington, New Asked if she feared for her own health, on people who flout the guidelines. Control. federal funding to meet demand for health Mexico or Phoenix, Arizona for supplies and Smith said she participated in a ceremony Fines for violations are stiff , rising to as much as Several leaders interviewed by Reuters in needs,” said Navajo Council Delegate Am- work. before starting work and believed she was Can$1,546 ($1,100). The Montreal police have given the traditionally matriarchal society say they ber Kanazbah Crotty, as she stayed home and One member’s travel can infect an entire protected by ancestors and holy people.”Our out more than 700 such fines in a month, as well are trying to support a growing number of worked her land in the village of Sheep Springs, family, Navajo leaders warn. ancestors sacrifi ced so much more for us to as another 300 court summonses. families quarantined in their homes. New Mexico, around 72km south of Shiprock. “In a household with multi-generational allow us to continue to be here,” she said. Obama endorses Biden for president to ‘heal’ America

By Michael Mathes, AFP (infl uenza) and prevent the Eb- young voters by the millions. Obama forged a special bond to endorse,” Biden said last April Washington ola epidemic from becoming the And he said it was time for with Biden during the eight years 25, the day he launched his can- type of pandemic we’re seeing those progressive supporters to the former Delaware senator didacy. now,” Obama said. help defeat the Republican in- served as his wingman, award- “Whoever wins this nomina- arack Obama yesterday en- Biden, 77, promptly expressed cumbent. “Right now, we need ing him the presidential medal of tion should win it on their own dorsed Joe Biden’s White his thanks in a tweet. Americans of goodwill to unite freedom in January 2017. merits.” BHouse bid, saying his long- “Barack — This endorsement in a great awakening against a But thus far in the 2020 race Obama’s endorsement comes time vice president can unify means the world to Jill and me,” politics that too often has been the nation’s fi rst African-Amer- relatively early in the race com- and “heal” a nation struggling the Democratic stalwart said. characterised by corruption, ican leader had largely fl own un- pared to 2016. through some of its darkest mo- “We’re going to build on the carelessness, self-dealing, dis- der the political radar. That year he waited until June ments. progress we made together, and information, ignorance, and just Despite his silence he was 8 to endorse Hillary Clinton, who The formal backing by per- there’s no one I’d rather have plain meanness,” Obama said. given a starring role in campaign had clinched the Democratic haps the most popular politician standing by my side.” “To change that, we need advertisements by Biden, Sand- nomination against Sanders two in America is the latest boost for Biden is the Democratic Par- Americans of all political stripes ers and other candidates as they days earlier. Biden’s surging candidacy, and ty’s presumptive nominee to to get involved in our politics and scrambled for advantage ahead of David Axelrod, chief strate- a further sign that Democratic challenge Trump, after his lone our public life like never before.” key primaries, such as those on gist of Obama’s 2008 campaign, leaders are rallying around the An October 15, 2015 file photo of then-Vice President Joe Biden and remaining opponent Bernie Obama’s endorsement comes Super Tuesday on March 3. said Obama had committed to all party fl agbearer more than six then-President Barack Obama interacting at the 25th anniversary of Sanders dropped out of the race as the coronavirus has frozen tra- At campaign events and de- 2020 Democratic candidates to months before November’s elec- the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics at last week. ditional campaigning. bates Biden made sure to show he not put his fi nger on the scale un- tion. the White House in Washington, DC. The leftist US senator from Typically, such high-profi le is running as Obama’s heir, rou- til the nomination was decided. “Joe has the character and the Vermont had endorsed his ex- support would be followed by tinely highlighting the partner- “He wanted to be a unifying experience to guide us through comes at a time of deep national handling of the outbreak under rival Monday, saying it was time Obama’s appearance at a ma- ship with his former boss. fi gure for the Democratic Party, one of our darkest times and anxiety, with the vast majority of the spotlight, Obama signalled he for Americans to “come togeth- jor Biden rally, generating sub- But Biden, after sitting out and he didn’t feel he could do heal us through a long recovery,” Americans under stay-at-home believed Biden — with four dec- er” behind Biden. stantial national coverage and 2016 to mourn the loss of his son that if he intervened too soon,” Obama said in a 12-minute video. orders due to the coronavirus pan- ades of government experience — Two-term president Obama prompting a deluge of campaign Beau to cancer, had made clear Axelrod told CNN yesterday. “I believe Joe has all the qualities demic that has killed nearly 25,000 would be a far more capable man- also praised Sanders as a pro- donations. But it remains unclear from the start he would run on “Now that the outcome is de- we need in a president right now.” people in the United States. ager of the US response. gressive champion whose en- when, if at all, on-the-ground his terms. termined, he is clearly going to The cherished endorsement With President Donald Trump’s “Joe helped me manage H1N1 ergy and enthusiasm inspired campaigning will resume. “I asked president Obama not plunge into this.” Gulf Times Wednesday, April 15, 2020 9 ASIA

Offi cials As virus bites, Asean leaders say eight killed in Myanmar vow to keep trade routes open army AFP to set up a special fund to help Hanoi Asean countries combat the pandemic, but declined to shelling say how much money will be outheast Asian lead- allocated. Reuters ers pledged to keep trade Following the summit - which Myanmar Sroutes open to protect food was joined by leaders from supplies and stockpile medi- China, Japan and South Korea cal equipment at a summit held - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang ight people were killed by online yesterday, as they warned also declared his support for shelling in Myanmar’s Ra- of the crippling economic cost of a $5bn recovery package pro- Ekhine state yesterday, two the coronavirus. posed by Beijing-backed Asian local offi cials and a resident said, Led by Vietnam, which chaired Infrastructure Investment Bank but the army said reports that the Association of Southeast (AIIB). civilians in the village had been Asian Nations (Asean) meeting, “We welcome the AIIB’s pro- shelled were “fabricated”. leaders agreed to share resources posal of a Covid-19 Recovery Fa- Reuters was unable to inde- and fi ght to limit further damage cility with an initial capitalisa- pendently confi rm deaths in the to the region’s tourism and ex- tion of $5bn,” Li said, according village of Kyauk Seik in Pon- port-reliant economies, already to state media. nagyun township. A government ravaged by Covid-19. In opening remarks via video spokesman did not respond to But an emergency fund pro- conference, Vietnam premier phone calls seeking comment. posed by Hanoi to tackle the Nguyen Xuan Phuc hailed the In a statement published on pandemic did not appear to have work of Asean in fi ghting the the commander-in-chief’s web- been given the go-ahead. virus. site yesterday, the military said In a joint declaration, lead- But he warned the disease troops had fi red artillery while ers committed “to keeping “has badly impacted people’s This handout photo from the Thai Royal Government taken and released yesterday shows multiple screens of a live video conference for the battling insurgents northwest of Asean’s markets open for trade lives, their socio-economic situ- special Asean Plus Three Summit on the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic that was being held in Hanoi, as it was viewed by Thailand’s Prime Ponnagyun town on Monday but and investment... with a view to ation... challenging stability and Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and other members of his cabinet at the Government House in Bangkok. did not hit Kyauk Seik village, ensuring food security”. social security”. which is to the northeast. They also pledged to cooper- Vietnam has had some success The situation is mixed else- the true scale of infections. backed by both Malaysia and the ongoing risks, dozens of work- Myanmar’s armed forces ate to ensure adequate supplies in containing the virus through where across the region, with A recent surge in cases in Sin- Philippines. ers at a Samsung unit in the north have been battling the Arakan of personal protective equip- extensive quarantines and social fears that limited testing in Indo- gapore has raised fears the pan- Philippines President Rodrigo were ordered into quarantine after Army (AA), a rebel group seek- ment and diagnostic tools, as distancing. nesia has played out into the low demic could rebound in places Duterte warned he was “particu- one tested positive for the virus. ing greater autonomy for the well as using “reserve warehous- It has recorded 265 infections caseload - and under 400 deaths which had beaten back the initial larly concerned with food security”. The Thai economy, the second- western region, for more than es to support the needs of Asean and no deaths, while Thailand - for the country of 260mn. outbreak. The whole region has been hit largest in Asean, is expected to a year. Clashes in Rakhine and member states in public health has also kept its numbers rela- Similarly, threadbare health Vietnam used the 10-member hard by the virus. shrink by 5.3% this year - a 22-year neighbouring Chin states have emergencies”. tively low with just over 2,500 systems from Myanmar to Laos summit to propose funding to In Vietnam many factories are low - with millions left jobless in escalated in recent weeks, leav- China later said it planned cases and 40 deaths. are widely believed to be missing deal with the pandemic, an idea still running, but, in a sign of the the politically febrile kingdom. ing dozens dead and thousands displaced. Tun Maung, a Ponnagyun law- maker, said on Monday he visited Kyauk Seik and that eight people had died. A local government of- Bangladesh unions fi cial in the village, Tun Aye, gave Thai hospitals protect babies born the same death toll. Both said villagers blamed the army for the shelling. urge govt to act as Thar Doe Maung, a Kyauk Seik resident, said the shelling had in a pandemic with face shields killed three of his nephews. The AA said in a statement workers lose jobs there had been no clashes be- AFP tween the military and its fi ght- Thomson Reuters Foundation secretary of the ministry. Bangkok ers in the area on Monday and Dhaka Bangladesh ranks behind only blamed government troops for China as a supplier of clothes to the shelling. Western countries. The garment in- ast asleep, swaddled in a In its statement, the mili- t least 10,000 garment dustry accounts for more than 80% towel and snug in a pink tary vowed to take action workers have been sacked of its exports and employs about 4 Fbeanie, a baby born dur- against lawmakers who spread Ain Bangladesh as West- million people, mostly women. ing a pandemic in a Thai hospi- “misinformation”. ern brands hit by coronavirus Hundreds of workers took to tal needs one last item to ensure Tun Maung said he had re- lockdowns cancel orders, union the street this week, defying a its health - a face shield. ported what he was told by the leaders said yesterday, urging government lockdown to protest Bangkok hospitals are using villagers and that it was his job to the government to step in. the non-payment of wages, ac- the shields on newborns in their do so as their elected representa- More than $3bn-worth of cording to police. maternity wards to prevent the tive. Another MP, Tun Tun Win, orders have been cancelled or Fatima said she had been fi red at spread of the coronavirus. who also spoke to media and suspended, according to fac- the end of March and had still not Bangkok is now under an was named in the army state- tory owners in Bangladesh, one received her pay for the month. eff ective lockdown - silenc- ment, said he had done nothing of the world’s top suppliers of “It was shocking. One minute I ing the usual boistrous and wrong in telling journalists what clothes to Western countries. was working, the next I was fi red. I boozy Thai New Year Song- villagers had told him. “We found at least 10,000 work- still don’t know when I will get paid,” kran festival this week - while Journalists are blocked from ers from 37 factories who lost their said the 26-year-old, who gave only an overnight curfew has kept travelling to most of central and jobs. The actual situation could be one name. “I have a son to take care all but essential vehicles off northern Rakhine. worse,” said Kalpona Akter, founder of. I don’t know what to do.” the streets. Countries including the Unit- of the Bangladesh Centre for Work- The government has an- Extraordinary measures ed States and Britain have called er Solidarity, one of three unions nounced a $588mn package to have also been rolled out at for an end to fi ghting in Rakhine, that documented the job cuts. help the crucial export sector Praram 9 Hospital, where not least to help protect vulner- “These workers won’t get pay its workers, but labour lead- newborns are being fi tted with able communities from the coro- jobs anywhere else for the next ers say that this is not enough. face shields, a precaution tak- navirus pandemic. Myanmar has two to three months. The fac- Rubana Huq, president of the en at other maternity wards Medical staff wait for patients at a drive through Covid-19 coronavirus testing centre at Vibhavadi Hospital reported 62 cases of Covid-19 tories must take them back and Bangladesh Garment Manufac- across the capital. in Bangkok yesterday. and four deaths. the government needs to ensure turers and Exporters Associa- The tiny face guards have The AA declared a month-long this,” she added. tion, said owners had been asked been designed by the hospital Of the new cases, 27 patients spokesman for the government’s donesia for a religious gathering ceasefi re for April along with A senior employment ministry not to let workers go. for use when the baby makes its are linked to previous cases, four Center for Covid-19 Situation last month. two other ethnic armed groups, offi cial said the government had “Some have listened. Only a fi rst journey home. with no links to old cases, while Administration. Since the outbreak escalated citing the pandemic. The army asked factory owners not to cut jobs. few have not,” said Huq. “Times Thailand yesterday reported two people who tested posi- A Thai national who tested in January, Thailand has reported rejected the plea, with a spokes- “We will assess the report and are tough, we have neverthe- 34 new coronavirus cases and tive are awaiting investigation positive yesterday was already a total of 2,613 cases and 41 fa- man saying a previous truce de- take the required steps to protect less asked all factories not to a death of a 52-year old Thai fe- into how they were infected, under quarantine after travelling talities, while 1,405 patients have clared by the government went our workers,” said K M Ali Azam, retrench.” male bus driver in Bangkok. said Taweesin Wisanuyothin, a to South Sulawesi province, In- recovered and gone home. unheeded by insurgents. Indonesian artists teach virus care Chinese survey ship returns AFP Indonesia reports Jakarta to Vietnam’s economic zone highest daily jump Reuters At least three Vietnamese expand its unlawful claims in the rom scythe-wielding in virus deaths Hanoi vessels were moving with the South China Sea,” the US State monsters to a globe fend- Chinese ship, according to data Department said in a statement, Fing off coronavirus with an Indonesia yesterday re- issued by the Marine Traffi c site. referring to China. umbrella, a group of Indonesian ported its biggest daily jump Chinese ship embroiled in The presence of the Haiyang The Philippines, which also has artists has turned to wall murals in coronavirus deaths with a standoff with Vietnam- Dizhi 8 in Vietnam’s EEZ comes disputed claims in the South China to help stem a growing number 60 new fatalities, taking the Aese vessels last year has towards the scheduled end of a Sea, has raised its concerns too. of infections. total to 459, health ministry returned to waters near Vietnam 15-day nationwide lockdown in On Saturday, China’s Global The Jakarta-area artists saw off icial Achmad Yurianto as the United States accused Vietnam aimed at curbing the Times, published by the offi - orders for their work dry up as said. China of pushing its presence in spread of the coronavirus. cial People’s Daily newspaper the pandemic hit and decided to Yurianto confirmed 282 new the South China Sea while other It also follows the sinking of a Vi- of China’s ruling Communist use that extra time to paint the coronavirus infections, taking claimants are preoccupied with etnamese fi shing boat near islands in Party, said Vietnam had used walls of their neighbourhoods the total in the Southeast Asian the coronavirus. the disputed waters this month, an the fi shing boat incident to dis- and educate the public about the country to 4,839. Vietnamese vessels last year act that drew a protest from Vietnam tract from its “ineptitude” in deadly disease. A total of 426 people have spent months shadowing the and accusations that China had vio- handling the coronavirus. “This unnecessary panic recovered, he said. Chinese Haiyang Dizhi 8 survey lated its sovereignty and threatened Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign moved me to do these mu- More than 33,600 tests have vessel in resource-rich waters the lives of its fi shermen. Aff airs did not immediately re- rals. I wanted to rebuild our been performed, Yurianto that are a potential global fl ash- The US, which last month sent spond to a request from Reuters spirit so we’ve got the positive added. (Reuters) point as the US challenges Chi- an aircraft carrier to the central for comment. energy back to fi ght against na’s sweeping maritime claims. Vietnamese port of Danang, said Helped by a mass quarantine and coronavirus,” said artist Sulis Mural artist Ray Andree posing in front of his artwork as local artists join Yesterday, the ship, which is it was “seriously concerned” aggressive contact-tracing, Viet- Listanto. the campaign in the fight against the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak in “Through this work we’re urg- used for off shore seismic surveys, about China’s reported sinking nam has recorded 265 cases of the “It’s easier to educate people Depok, West Java, yesterday. ing people to stay at home and to appeared again 158km (98 miles) of the vessel. novel coronavirus and no deaths. through pictures.” appreciate health workers.” off Vietnam’s coast, within its “We call on the PRC to remain Nearly 122,000 coronavirus tests So Listanto painted a globe carrying a scythe with the words paint a colourful montage advis- “We tried to make the murals exclusive economic zone (EEZ), focused on supporting inter- have been carried out in Vietnam. being attacked by the virus with “Covid-19”. ing people to stay at home. colourful and bright so they can fl anked by at least one China national eff orts to combat the China and Vietnam have for the words “Save the world”. Fellow mural artist Yahya - “We used to paint murals at radiate positive energy and keep Coast Guard vessel, according to global pandemic, and to stop years been at loggerheads over the Another had a darker tone who like many Indonesians goes schools or cafes, but we don’t people optimistic in this diffi cult data from Marine Traffi c, a web- exploiting the distraction or potentially energy-rich waters, featuring a cat-like monster by one name - was inspired to have any jobs now,” he said. time,” he said. site that tracks shipping. vulnerability of other states to called the East Sea by Vietnam. Gulf Times 10 Wednesday, April 15, 2020 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Malaysia turns to antibody tests to supplement laboratory checks

Reuters the use of the serology test kits, creased from around 6 hours to stopped publishing backlog data. clear. This is how we are trying them to ease movement curbs curing them have made it hard to Kuala Lumpur which can show the presence of as many as two days or more, the To reduce the testing backlog, the to reduce the number of PCR lab by identifying people who may ramp up capacity. Malaysia last antibodies in people who have director-general of health Noor close contacts of people infected tests.” have acquired immunity, but it week warned of a shortage of been infected. Hisham Abdullah told reporters. will now receive the antibody A person who tested nega- is not yet clear if that is possible. reagents, a chemical used in diag- alaysian authorities Like other countries, it instead Malaysia reported 170 new tests at the end of their 14-day tive can then be discharged from Some doctors had been calling nostic tests to detect the presence have begun using Cov- chose polymerase chain reaction, coronavirus cases yesterday, tak- mandatory quarantine period. quarantine, freeing up state re- for Malaysia to use new rapid test of the coronavirus. Mid-19 antibody rapid or PCR, laboratory tests, which ing the total to nearly 5,000 in- “On the 13th day, we will use the sources used to monitor them, kits – both antibody and antigen Noor Hisham yesterday also tests kits to supplement laborato- detect the presence of the novel fections, the second-highest in antibody or serology tests... and but they would still be required – to widen testing and reduce the warned that the country was ry tests as the number of cases in coronavirus itself and are seen as Southeast Asia, with 82 deaths. if it comes back positive, then we to self-isolate under movement backlog of cases, but like other running low on personal protec- the country grows, a senior health more reliable. But as the number It had done nearly 82,000 PCR will carry out the PCR test again,” curbs imposed by the govern- countries, it has been awaiting tive equipment (PPEs) for health offi cial said yesterday. of suspected cases needing test- tests as of Monday and reported Noor Hisham said. ment until April 28 to limit the trial results. workers, with supplies of some Offi cials in Malaysia, as else- ing has risen, the turnaround time over 8,000 pending lab results “But if the antibody test comes virus’ spread. Countries hope A shortage of laboratory test- items expected to last just an- where, had initially rejected for laboratory test results had in- earlier this month, before it back negative, then you’re in the antibody tests may one day help ing supplies and diffi culty in pro- other 19 days. China tightens North Korea fi res multiple border checks, approves virus suspected cruise missiles vaccine trials AFP It has also fi red cruise missiles Seoul in the past, as in June 2017 when it hailed the successful test of Reuters military-backed Academy of what it called a new type of sur- Suifenhe Military Medical Sciences and orth Korea fi red several face-to-ship cruise missile. Hong Kong-listed biotech suspected cruise mis- Those missiles fl ew around fi rm CanSino Bio. US drug Nsiles yesterday towards 200km and were launched the hina has approved ear- developer Moderna said ear- the sea, according to the South’s week after two US aircraft carri- ly-stage human tests of lier it had begun human tests military, with analysts saying ers took part in naval manoeuvres Ctwo experimental vac- of its possible vaccine with Pyongyang was demonstrating in the Sea of Japan. North Ko- cines to combat the new coro- the US National Institutes of the breadth of its arsenal. rean leader Kim Jong-un and US navirus as the country where Health. But despite hopes for The “multiple projectiles” President Donald Trump traded the virus was fi rst detected a vaccine, the epidemic could fi red from Munchon in the east mutual insults and threats of war battles to contain imported stretch on for up to two years of the country were believed to during 2017, sending tensions cases, especially from Russia. and precautions such as masks be “short-range cruise missiles”, soaring. Russia has become China’s and preventing big gatherings the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a The South’s President Moon largest source of imported cas- may need to continue, Zhang statement. Jae-in used the Pyeongchang es, with a total of 409 infec- Boli, president of the Tianjin The test comes a day before Winter Olympics in his coun- tions originating in its north- University of Traditional Chi- the South holds parliamentary try to broker a diplomatic rap- ern neighbour. Chinese there nese Medicine, told reporters. elections, and at a time when the prochement and a series of sum- should stay put and not return “We have to make preparations world’s attention has been largely mits followed. home, the state-owned Global for the long term,” he said. focused on the coronavirus pan- But talks between Pyongyang Times said yesterday. China’s coronavirus task demic, which Pyongyang insists and Washington have been large- “Chinese people have force decided yesterday to it has so far escaped. ly deadlocked since their Hanoi watched Russia become a boost health resources at its It also comes the day before summit broke up in February last severely aff ected country... borders. It will build hospi- the nuclear-armed North marks year amid disagreement on sanc- This should sound the alarm: tals and establish isolation the 108th anniversary of the birth tions relief and what the North China must strictly prevent points near borders and also of founder Kim Il-sung, grandfa- would be willing to give up in re- the infl ow of cases and avoid strengthen cooperation with ther of the current leader Kim turn. a second outbreak,” the paper, neighbours. However, offi cials Jong-un. Yesterday’s missiles trav- which is run by the Commu- acknowledged that China’s In recent years Pyongyang has elled around 150km according to nist Party’s People’s Daily, said long border with numerous repeatedly tested ballistic mis- A man watches a television news broadcast showing file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a Seoul, and Go Myong-hyun— an in an editorial. country roads, paths, ferry siles, which are propelled high railway station in Seoul yesterday. analyst at the Asan Institute for China’s northeastern bor- crossings and mountain passes above the Earth — often into Policy Studies — said the short der province of Heilongjiang made it diffi cult to control. space — before descending to- Frequently highly manoeu- man added. “South Korea and “Until now North Korea has range was likely to have been de- saw 79 new cases of imported Foreign Ministry spokes- wards their targets at high speed vrable, they need sophisticated US intelligence authorities are shown its force, and now it is liberately chosen by Pyongyang. coronavirus cases on Monday, man Zhao Lijian said that au- by the force of gravity. guidance systems to bring them closely analysing related issues,” demonstrating accuracy in strik- “North Korea is still deciding all Chinese citizens travelling thorities on both sides of the The North’s arsenal includes to their targets. the statement said. Pyongyang ing targets.” The North is subject what kind of strategic position it home from Russia, state media border should collectively take intercontinental ballistic mis- Yesterday’s missiles travelled was demonstrating that it had to multiple UN Security Council should take between provocation said. Mainland China reported measures against illegal cross- siles (ICBMs) capable of reach- over the Sea of Japan, also known “various options” when it came sanctions over its banned weap- and dialogue,” he told AFP. 89 new cases. ing. ing the entire US mainland. In as the East Sea, before coming to weapons delivery systems, ons programmes. “It is treading carefully. It is Heilongjiang’s provincial “This responsibility must contrast, cruise missiles travel at down in the water, the JCS said. said Cha Du-Hyeogn, senior re- It has carried out a series of fi ring missiles to raise tensions, authority said yesterday it had be shouldered by both sides low altitudes — sometimes just a The North also fl ew multiple searcher at the Asan Institute for weapons tests in recent months but the level of tension is not that established a hotline to reward to uphold order in the border few metres (feet) above the sur- Sukhoi-variant and MiG fi ghter Policy Studies. “Ballistic missiles — often describing them as high. “At this point, I wouldn’t be citizens as much as 5,000 yuan area,” he said, adding that there face, making them hard to detect jets above the eastern coastal city demonstrate destructive power multiple launch rocket systems, surprised if North Korea carries ($710) for handing over or re- are about 100,000 Chinese — and are powered throughout of Wonsan, which fi red multiple while cruise missiles show accu- while others have called them out more provocations, or if it porting illegal immigrants. nationals in Russia. To ensure their fl ight. air-to-ground rockets, a spokes- racy,” he told AFP. ballistic missiles. suddenly says it is ready to talk.” China has reported 82,249 no infected people slip in from coronavirus cases and 3,341 Russia, China has put in strin- deaths. It reported no new gent measures in Suifenhe, deaths yesterday. Mongolia a city in Heilongjiang with a also confi rmed 13 new cases, checkpoint into Russia. Train all imported from Russia. As services from it have been re- South Korea set to double supply of tests kits to US China fi ghts to prevent a sec- duced and cars need a special ond wave of coronavirus in- pass to leave. fections, two experimental Piao Minghua, deputy head Reuters South Korea to 1.5mn. SolGent a telephone call with South Ko- but that a decision has not been to comment. The ministry had vaccines will be tested on hu- of customs in the area, told Seoul has already sent kits for 150,000 rean President Moon Jae-in on made. said that three companies had mans, the Xinhua state news Reuters that everyone entering tests while South Korean peers March 25. US Ambassador to South Ko- won preliminary approval from agency reported. Suifenhe had to be tested for Osang HealthCare and SD BIO- The US death toll from Cov- rea Harry Harris said on Twitter the US Food and Drug Adminis- They are being developed the coronavirus, give details of outh Korea’s SolGent has SENSOR are due to ship kits id-19, the lung disease caused that testing kits had been loaded tration (FDA) to export kits, but by a Beijing-based unit of contacts and undergo quaran- secured an order to supply capable of performing 600,000 by the virus, topped 23,600 at Incheon Airport bound for the did not identify the fi rms. Nasdaq-listed Sinovac Biotech tine. Sa US government agency tests on Tuesday, company on Monday, the highest of any United States. After struggling with the and by the Wuhan Institute of Residents are only allowed with an additional 7,500 kits sources told Reuters. country. He called the alliance between fi rst large outbreak of the virus Biological Products, an affi li- to leave their homes once eve- which can each perform 100 The kits are being sent to the SolGent CEO You Jae-hyung the two countries “ironclad” outside of China, South Korea ate of state-owned China Na- ry three days, many shops are coronavirus tests, the CEO of US Federal Emergency Man- told Reuters that the company is and thanked South Korea’s for- has largely managed to curb its tional Pharmaceutical Group. closed and markets largely de- the biotech fi rm told Reuters. agement Agency (FEMA) after in talks on a long-term contract eign ministry for its help. FEMA spread without lockdown or- In March, China gave the serted. Suifenhe has also con- That will double the number an appeal from US President with FEMA and about building did not immediately respond to ders helped by a massive testing green light for another clini- verted an offi ce building into of tests US authorities can per- Donald Trump. Trump made a a factory in the United States Reuters’ emailed inquiries. campaign and intensive contact cal trial for a vaccine candi- a hospital that would provide form using kits sourced from request for medical devices in to manufacture the testing kits, The foreign ministry declined tracing. date developed by China’s 600 beds for patients.

Taiwan reports no new virus cases Polls amid pandemic for first time in a Pacifi c clean-up after homes ‘blown month to smithereens’ by Cyclone Harold Taiwan yesterday reported no new cases of the coronavirus for the first time in more than AFP the destruction was worse than there was one fatality in Fiji. No a month, in the latest sign that Suva, Fiji the last Category Five system to deaths were recorded in Tonga, the island’s early and eff ective hit the country, Cyclone Pam in where at least three tourist re- prevention methods have paid 2015, which fl attened the capital sorts and more than 400 homes off . ens of thousands of people Port Vila and wiped out almost were badly damaged. Mark Low- Taiwan has won plaudits from remain homeless in Van- two-thirds of the country’s eco- cock, the UN head of humani- health experts for how it has Tuatu a week after Tropi- nomic capacity. tarian aff airs and emergency re- fought the virus, including cal Cyclone Harold pummelled “After Pam, people were able to lief, pledged US$2.5mn towards starting as early as Dec 31 checks the impoverished Pacifi c nation, pick up the pieces pretty quickly, drinking water, food, shelter and on passengers arriving from smashing houses and destroying put a tarp on the roof and replant healthcare in Vanuatu. China’s Wuhan city, where the crops, aid workers said yesterday. the garden,” she said. “What we’re “The government and fi rst first cases were reported late last The cyclone careened through seeing from Harold is that houses responders in Vanuatu did an ex- year. the South Pacifi c last week, have been blown to smithereens, cellent job of making people safe Taiwan has reported 393 cases peaking as a Category Five su- there’s nothing to pick up.” She ahead of the storm hitting and to date, and six deaths. A total perstorm that gouged a trail of said there was extensive damage meeting immediate needs after it of 338 were so-called imported destruction across the Solomon on the islands of Pentecost, Am- hit,” he said in a statement. cases, where people were Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga. bae and Santo, where Vanuatu’s “As the extent of the destruc- suspected of getting infected With aid eff orts hampered by second-largest town, Luganville, tion becomes clear, this UN overseas before entering coronavirus-related travel re- took a direct hit. funding will ensure aid supplies Taiwan, with the rest cases of strictions, World Vision said up The death toll in Vanuatu are maintained and reach the local transmissions. “Of course, to 35% of Vanuatu’s 300,000 stands at three, although Gates people who need it.” T we hope it has passed,” Health population were in temporary Derousseau said that could rise he coronavirus pandemic has Minister Chen Shih-chung told shelters after losing their homes. as information fi ltered in from complicated disaster relief ef- a news conference, referring to “Shelter at this time remains ab- hard-hit remote areas. forts, with Vanuatu reluctant to the virus on the island. “But we solutely the most pressing issue,” In the Solomons, 27 people open its international borders as Lee Nak-yon (right), South Korea’s former prime minister and candidate of the ruling Democratic still need to be on our guard. Of World Vision’s Vanuatu direc- died when they were washed it seeks to remain one of the few Party, speaks during a campaign for the parliamentary elections in Seoul yesterday. South Koreans course we feel happy at no new tor Kendra Gates Derousseau from the deck of an inter-island countries without any confi rmed will go to the polls today in nationwide national assembly elections. cases today.” told AFP. She said in some areas ferry, while the Red Cross said cases of the virus. Gulf Times Wednesday, April 15, 2020 11 INDIA BRITAIN Privacy fears over NHS contact-tracing app Guardian News and Media who developed Covid-19 symp- work, using Bluetooth LE, a ministers judge that to be propor- were ever plans to de-anonymise look to use the device ID of users Hancock did not specify London toms to “anonymously” alert oth- standard feature that runs con- tionate at some stage”. It did not data, or use data from apps such in any app-based solutions.” which technology the govern- er users to whom they had been in stantly and automatically on all say why ministers might want to as Google Maps. NHSX plans to harness data for ment would use but said the close proximity. “All data will be mobile devices, to take “sound- identify app users, or under what “NHSX is looking at whether the government’s response to the NHS was “working closely with draft government memo handled according to the highest ings” from other nearby phones circumstances doing so would be app-based solutions might be coronavirus pandemic were made the world’s leading tech compa- explaining how the NHS ethical and security standards, through the day. proportionate. helpful in tracking and manag- public after confi dential docu- nies”. Explaining how the NHS Acontact-tracing app could and would only be used for NHS People who have been in sus- It added that alternatives to ing coronavirus, and we have as- ments, used by private contrac- app would work, Hancock said: stem the spread of the coronavi- care and research,” he said. tained proximity with someone building an NHS app included sembled expertise from inside tors, were made accessible via an “If you become unwell with the rus said ministers might be given However, the government who may have Covid-19 could “making use of existing apps and and outside the organisation to unrestricted portal that was seen symptoms of coronavirus, you the ability to order “de-anonymi- document seen by the Guard- then be warned and advised to other functions already installed do this as rapidly as possible,” the by the Guardian. can securely tell this new NHS sation” to identify people from ian, headed “offi cial – sensitive” self–isolate, without revealing the on people’s phones (eg Google spokesperson said. On Friday, Google and Apple app and the app will then send their smartphones, the Guardian and “draft – not yet approved”, identity of the infected individual. Maps).” “To be very clear – there have announced an unprecedented an alert anonymously to other revealed. suggests the NHS privately con- However, the memo stated that A spokesperson for NHSX, the never been plans to make use of collaboration to provide the back- app users that you’ve been in The Health Secretary, Matt sidered using the technology to “more controversially” the app digital transformation wing of the existing apps and other func- end technology that will enable signifi cant contact with over Hancock, announced on Sunday identify users. could use the device IDs, which health service, which is oversee- tions already installed on peoples governments to introduce con- the past few days, even before that the UK planned to introduce Produced in March, the memo are unique to all smartphones, ing the development of the UK phones such as Google Maps and tact-tracing apps that run on both you had symptoms, so that they an app that would enable people explained how an NHS app could “to enable de-anonymisation if contact-tracing app, denied there neither have there been plans to iPhones and Android phones. know and can act accordingly.” Two of UK’s largest nursing homes report 521 virus deaths

Guardian News and Media ures from Italy, Spain, France, London Ireland and Belgium appear to show that care home deaths may account for about half of the total wo of the largest providers death toll. of care homes in the UK The National Care Association Thave revealed the deaths of has warned that deaths in care 521 residents from coronavirus in homes risk being “airbrushed out” recent weeks, in the clearest sign with the headline daily death toll yet of the rising scale of fatalities announced by the government outside the NHS which have not only relating to deaths in the NHS. been offi cially announced. The ONS is gathering care home HC-One, which operates about fi gures from death certifi cates 350 homes, said that as of 8pm on where doctors report that a fatal- Monday there had been 311 deaths ity was confi rmed or suspected from confi rmed or suspected of having occurred because of the Covid-19, with outbreaks in two- virus. thirds of its homes. Sir David Behan, executive Critical care sister Anthea Allen and doctor Olivier Blackford collect meals donated by Critical NHS to staff at St George’s Hospital as the spread of the coronavirus disease MHA, a charitable operator, chairman of HC-One, said: “Cov- continues, in London, Britain, yesterday. said there have been 210 deaths id-19 deaths are representative of across 131 homes, with outbreaks about a third of all deaths we have in about half of its homes. had over the last three weeks. We The fi gures contrast both with have staff feeling anxious not just Monday’s assertion by Chris about PPE (personal protective Whitty, the government’s chief equipment), but that they will medical adviser, that there are catch the virus and bring it home outbreaks in one in seven care to their loved ones.” homes in England and data pub- Scotland has offi cially con- ‘No trade-off ’ between lished weekly by the Offi ce for Na- fi rmed that Covid-19 is present in tional Statistics (ONS) which has a about a third of its care homes. 10-day time lag. On Monday the Scottish Health The latest weekly care home Secretary, Jeane Freeman, said death toll published by the ONS it had been identifi ed in 406 fa- yesterday showed that only 237 cilities. As in England there have people died in care homes in Eng- been clusters of deaths in Scotland health and economy land and Wales in the two weeks to including 13 in one Glasgow care April 3, with all but 20 cases in the home. Reuters that doing so would be self-de- In the model, real GDP could end of 2020, but that the unem- “likely to have only a limited ef- last seven days of that period. Whitty said on Monday that in London feating,” he added. fall 35% in the second quarter, ployment rate at the end of 2021 fect...as the fall in output is largely HC-One and MHA together the preceding 24 hours there had Earlier yesterday, the Offi ce for but bounce back quickly once the could still be around 1.5% higher the by-product of the impact of operate 3% of England’s care been 92 new outbreaks in care set- Budget Responsibility estimated coronavirus restrictions are eased. than pre-virus levels. the health measures on the sup- homes but their combined death tings in England. inance Minister Rishi Sunak the economy could plunge by Unemployment could also rise Sunak told the BBC that the ply of, and demand for, goods and toll is already higher than the ONS Therese Coff ey, the work and said he did not see a trade- 35% in the three months to June by more than 2mn to hit 10% in the study made “clear this will have services,” the OBR said. fi gures, which either suggests pensions secretary, defended the Foff between measures to with unemployment more than second quarter, with the recovery a very signifi cant impact on our It warned that the scenario undercounting due to the ONS’s government’s approach to pub- combat the health impact of the doubling to 10%, before bouncing in jobs lagging behind GDP, said economy”. “There’s hardship “should not be taken as our view of method of relying on what is re- lishing data only after it has been coronavirus and the country’s back if restrictions on public life to the OBR. ahead,” he warned. the most likely path for the econ- corded on death certifi cates, or extracted by the ONS from death economic well-being, after gov- slow the spread of the coronavirus “We’re up to about 1.4mn peo- Ministers have announced huge omy”, which is highly sensitive to there has been a recent sharp rise certifi cates saying that it was ernment forecasters estimated are lifted. ple who have claimed Universal public spending measures to sup- underlying factors. in care deaths. “trustworthy”. output could fall by a third. The OBR warned that the im- Credit (social security) and also port businesses and those out of Britain announced an initial MHA’s fi gures up to Monday “That is a fair system of getting “The single most important pact of the pandemic would be a other people who have claimed work, leading to a large increase in three-week lockdown on March also suggest a considerable in- that unfortunate picture across the thing we can do for the health bigger shock to the UK economy other things like jobseeker’s al- predicted borrowing. 23. But with the death toll climb- crease of 89 fatalities in the last six country where there are deaths from of our economy is to protect the than the 2008 fi nancial crisis. lowance or employment support The OBR scenario envisages a ing, Foreign Secretary Dominic days. coronavirus,” she told BBC Radio 4’s health of our people,” Sunak said “The resulting 13% fall in an- allowance,” Social Welfare Minis- net borrowing increase of £218bn Raab — who is deputising for Last Tuesday, it told the Guard- Today programme. “We are abso- at the government’s daily news nual GDP in 2020 would comfort- ter Theresa Coff ey told Sky News ($274bn) in 2020 to 14% of GDP, Prime Minister Boris Johnson as ian, there had been 121 deaths. lutely being transparent, but what conference. ably exceed any of the annual falls yesterday. the largest single-year defi cit since he recovers from his own bout of A study published at the week- the government wants to provide at “It’s not a case of choosing be- around the end of each world war The model suggested half of World War II. Covid-19 — warned on Monday end by academics at the London its daily briefi ng is quick informa- tween the economy and public or in the fi nancial crisis,” the OBR those made unemployed by the Measures taken by the govern- that the UK would not lift the lock- School of Economics of early fi g- tion, accurate information.” health — common sense tells us said. crisis could return to work by the ment and the Bank of England are down anytime soon. 99-year-old war veteran ITV under fi re over raises £2mn for NHS anchor’s 5G remarks Reuters tion as a priority. London Holmes yesterday sought to Guardian News and Media “I think it’s absolutely fabu- she said. “We always knew that he clarify his comments, saying there London lous,” Moore said. “I really am was this incredible gem of a man, was no connection between the pleased to be doing this and serv- but we never had any idea that his ritain’s biggest free-to-air national health crisis and 5G and ing our nurses and our doctors story would capture the hearts of broadcaster ITV came un- to suggest otherwise was wrong 99-year-old war veteran and all our people in our national the nation. Bder fi re yesterday after one and possibly dangerous. has raised more than £2mn health service.” “We thought we could give of its leading presenters said no “Every theory relating to such a Afor the NHS by aiming to Moore served in World War II, people a little bit of happy and one knew whether a conspiracy connection has been proven to be walk 100 lengths of his back gar- after being selected for offi cer we wanted to share a little bit theory that 5G masts help spread false and we would like to empha- den before his 100th birthday. training in 1940 and completing about him, and it has just gone the novel coronavirus was true or sise that,” he said on This Morning. Captain Tom Moore, from postings in India and Sumatra. beyond even our wildest, wild- not. “However, many people are rightly Keighley in Yorkshire, initially He returned to work as an in- est dreams.” Some telecoms masts in Brit- concerned and are looking for an- planned to raise £1,000 through structor at an armoured fi ghting All the money Moore raises ain were attacked and engineers swers, and that’s simply what I was the challenge. vehicle school in Bovington. will be donated to NHS Charities abused as the conspiracy theory, trying to impart on Monday.” However, after launching his “Our brave nurses and doctors Together to go towards wellbeing which scientists, phone compa- British broadcasters such as campaign on April 8 and rais- are frontline in this case … this packs and rest and recuperation nies and the government say is ITV, the BBC and Comcasts’s Sky ing £70,000 in just 24 hours, he time our army are in doctors and centres for staff on the frontline, completely untrue and without are regulated by Ofcom in order to extended his fundraiser and hit nurses uniforms and they’re do- as well as electronic devices for any basis in fact, spread across so- guarantee that they meet certain the £1mn target yesterday morn- ing a marvellous job,” Moore said. patients to communicate with cial media. standards. ing, with a further £1mn raised The veteran’s wife was ill for their families while in isolation. “What I don’t accept is main- Cabinet minister, Michael throughout the day. several years and died in 2006, Ellie Orton, the chief executive stream media immediately slap- Gove, and senior health offi cials “It’s almost unbelievable isn’t while Moore had been treated for of NHS Charities Together, said: ping that down as not true when have described the 5G conspiracy it?,” Moore told the BBC. “But a broken hip and skin cancer, so he “I think I join the rest of the coun- they don’t know it’s not true,” Ea- theory as dangerous fake news when you think who it’s for, and continued to feel a close connec- try in being truly inspired and monn Holmes, a veteran presenter that could threaten connectivity they’re all so brave … I think they tion with the NHS, his daughter profoundly humbled by Capt Tom on ITV, said on ‘This Morning’ on at a time when it is needed more deserve every penny of it.” said. and what he’s achieved.” Monday. than ever. He is walking 10 laps of the Hannah said although her fa- In a direct message to Moore, “It’s very easy to say it is not “The idea that Covid-19 is garden a day with the help of his ther was overwhelmed when he she said: “Thank you from the true because it suits the state nar- caused by 5G mobile phone sig- walking aid, and had hoped to hit raised £1mn, he responded with a bottom of our hearts, and thank rative,” he said. nals is complete rubbish,” said Si- 100 laps in time for his birthday determination to walk more. you for being such a good role Britain’s media regulator Ofcom mon Clarke, an expert in cellular on April 30 – but according to his “He’s a typical Yorkshireman, model … let’s also get other peo- World War Two veteran 99-year-old Captain Tom Moore walks in his said it had received 419 complaints microbiology at the University of daughter, Hannah, he is likely to so he’s very stoic, very controlled ple doing the same and following garden in Marston Moretaine, north of London, to raise money for following the comment and was Reading. reach his goal tomorrow. and takes everything in his stride,” your example.” the National Health Service (NHS). assessing the programme in ques- Gulf Times 12 Wednesday, April 15, 2020 EUROPE

117mn children worldwide face measles risk: WHO

AFP ganisation (WHO) and the UN’s protect communities and health deaths, mostly among children battling large outbreaks. extremely contagious and po- fectious diseases – from polio to Paris children’s fund Unicef said. workers from Covid-19 through a and babies, were recorded – most The Congo alone has had tentially lethal disease for which tuberculosis – are likely to suff er An additional 13 countries pause of mass campaigns, where were preventable, meaning that 6,000 measles deaths in its cur- there already exists a safe and as health services triage workers have had their vaccination pro- risks of the disease are high.” the countries they occurred in rent epidemic. eff ective vaccine,” he said. “We to Covid-19 cases. round 117mn children grammes interrupted due to the “However, this should not had a vaccination programme. The country last week also are therefore urging countries to And while Covid-19 is over- worldwide risk contract- coronavirus, which causes Cov- mean that children permanently Of the two dozen countries to recorded a new case of Ebola – prepare and plan now for inten- whelmingly more serious in older Aing measles because doz- id-19. miss out.” have offi cially suspended mea- just days before the UN was due sive catch-up vaccinations once patients, many communicable ens of countries are curtailing In a joint statement, the Mea- Measles, a highly contagious sles vaccine programmes – os- to announce an end to that out- physical distancing restrictions diseases, including measles, in- their vaccination programmes as sles and Rubella Initiative (M&RI) disease, eff ects around 20mn tensibly to protect health workers break. are lifted.” ordinately target children. they battle the Covid-19 respira- said it is vital that immunisation people every year, the majority of and prioritise Covid-19 response Robin Nandy, the Unicef’s Billions of people around the “Children younger than 12 tory disease, the United Nations capacity is retained during and whom are aged under fi ve. – several have seen worrying chief of immunisation, told AFP world face weeks of lockdown as months of age are more likely to warned yesterday. after the current pandemic. Despite a cheap and readily rises in measles cases in recent that Covid-19 is likely to place governments fi gure out their re- die from measles complications, Currently 24 countries, in- “Together, more than 117mn available vaccine, measles cas- years. additional strain on already over- sponse to the coronavirus pan- and if the circulation of measles cluding several already dealing children ... could be impacted es have surged in recent years, In particular, Bangladesh, Bra- burdened healthcare systems. demic. virus is not stopped, their risk of with large measles outbreaks, by the suspension of scheduled largely in part to what the WHO zil, the Democratic Republic of “We have to be mindful of the Experts have warned since exposure to measles will increase have suspended widespread vac- immunisation activities,” it said. terms “vaccine hesitancy”. the Congo, South Sudan, Nigeria, impact of Covid-19, threaten- the start of the outbreak that re- daily,” said the M&RI. cinations, the World Health Or- “The M&RI supports the need to In 2018, 140,000 measles Ukraine and Kazakhstan are all ing outbreaks of measles, an sponse programmes to other in-

‘No open fi re’ left in Chernobyl nuclear Spain, Austria ease zone, says Ukraine

AFP burning dry grass near the ex- Kyiv clusion zone around the ruined reactor. The fl ames spread quickly, coronavirus curbs kraine said yesterday fanned by strong winds. that only small fi res Kyiv has mobilised helicop- WHO warns coronavirus tion worker, the restart came just Uremained in the Cher- ters and more than 400 fi re- pandemic has ‘certainly’ not in time. nobyl exclusion zone, with rain fi ghters, with planes dropping peaked “We really needed it, just when coming to the rescue in the tonnes of water on the fi re. we were going to run out of food battle against a huge blaze. Zelenskiy said late on Mon- Reuters/AFP we returned to work,” he told The fi re broke out 10 days day that he was closely fol- Madrid/London/Vienna Reuters. ago at the scene of the world’s lowing the situation and was Italy, which has the world’s worst nuclear accident in 1986 “grateful for the courage” of second highest death toll of and on Monday had reached the fi refi ghters. pain and Austria allowed 20,465, maintained some tight just 1.5km from the protective Oleksandr Syrota, head of partial returns to work yes- restrictions on movement. dome over the ruined reactor, the Chernobyl information Sterday after imposing coro- Denmark, one of the fi rst Eu- Greenpeace Russia said. centre, welcomed reports of navirus lockdowns to try to rein ropean countries to shut down, While forest fi res are com- rain in the exclusion zone as in a pandemic which the World will reopen daycare centres and mon in the exclusion zone, the “good news”. Health Organisation (WHO) schools for children in fi rst to environmental group says that Interior ministry spokesman warned had not yet peaked. fi fth grade on April 15. this has been the worst since Artem Shevchenko said rain Nearly 2mn people globally Thousands of shops across the 1986 nuclear explosion. “has greatly helped rescuers have been infected and more than Austria reopened yesterday, but Ukraine’s state emergency who have been fi ghting the fi re 119,200 have died in the most se- the government said it was “not service said yesterday how- in the area for over a week”. rious pandemic in a century, ac- out of the woods”. ever that the fi re was no longer On Monday, Sergiy Zibtsev, cording to a Reuters tally. Austria acted early to close visibly burning and it needed head of the Regional East- The epicentre has moved schools, bars, theatres, restau- several more days to extinguish ern European Fire Monitor- from China, where the virus fi rst rants, non-essential shops and the smouldering remains of ing Centre, said the fi re was emerged in December, to the other gathering places about four the blaze. “super-huge” and “unpredict- United States, which now has the weeks ago. “Background radiation in able”. highest death toll at 23,568. It has told the public to stay the exclusion zone remains “In the west of the exclusion World leaders, in consider- home. within normal limits and is zone it has already covered ing easing curbs, have to balance Austria has reported 384 not increasing,” the head of the 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres) risks to health and the economy, deaths in total, fewer than some emergencies service, Mykola by our calculations,” he said. as the lockdowns strangle sup- larger European countries have Chechotkin, told President The Ukrainian emergencies ply lines, especially in China, and been suff ering each day. A Red Cross volunteer hands a Volodymyr Zelenskiy during a service has not provided recent bring economic activity to a vir- Hospitalisations have stabi- mask to a commuter at conference call. fi gures on the size of the fi re, tual halt. lised. Barcelona’s Sants subway On Monday the situation but said “there is no threat to The world economy is ex- French President Emmanuel station. had worsened due to stormy the Chernobyl nuclear power pected to shrink by 3% this year, Macron on Monday extended a wind, but the rain helped fi re- plant and the storage facilities”. the International Monetary Fund virtual lockdown to May 11. Mask-wearing is compulsory fi ghters contain the blazes, Government agencies have (IMF) said, marking the steepest Russia might need to call in in shops and public transport. Chechotkin said. insisted the fi re has not caused downturn since the Great De- the army to help tackle the crisis, Queues were staggered, and Chernobyl polluted a large a spike in radiation levels. pression. President Vladimir Putin said on one tobacco shop only served swathe of Europe when its After the 1986 explosion, The WHO said the number of Monday. customers on the street, while fourth reactor exploded in the three other reactors at new cases was easing in some Moscow warned that the capi- an optician made only part of the April 1986. Chernobyl continued to gener- parts of Europe, including Italy tal may run out of hospital beds store accessible, asking custom- People are not allowed to live ate electricity until the power and Spain, but outbreaks were in coming weeks. ers to ring a bell to enter. within 30km (18 miles) of the station fi nally closed in 2000. growing in Britain and Turkey. Yesterday masked shoppers In a mobile phone shop, em- power station. A giant protective dome was “The overall world outbreak, cautiously entered hardware, ployees wore gloves matching the Police have said the fi re was put in place over the fourth re- 90% of cases are coming from gardening and smaller shops in rest of their outfi ts and badges sparked on April 4 by a man actor in 2016. Europe and the United States Austria, a month after the gov- that read “handshakes prohib- of America. So we are certainly ernment ordered them shut to ited”. not seeing the peak yet,” WHO fi ght the spread of the new coro- One gardening and hardware Austrian Chancellor Kurz is seen behind protective plexiglas as spokeswoman Margaret Harris navirus. store chain made it compulsory Health Minister Rudolf Anschober shows graphics during a press told a briefi ng in Geneva. Among the fi rst in the EU to for each customer to take a trol- conference yesterday in Vienna. But world stocks gained after have imposed strict confi ne- ley so that they’d be sure to keep Greece to begin Chinese trade data came in better ment rules, Austria also became a minimum distance to others, However, he also doubted it cosmetic surgeon leaving Vienna than expected and as some coun- among the fi rst to start lifting according to security personnel. would be business as usual from for western Tyrol province for tries partly lifted restrictions. them as new coronavirus infec- Only 100 trolleys, all disinfect- now on. work, said the confi nement went relocating dozens Some Spanish businesses, in- tions are subsiding. ed after each use, are allowed at “Firstly the fear hasn’t gone “a little too far” with improved cluding construction and manu- “I’m simply happy” to be able any one time, while posters read away completely. Secondly, peo- hygiene the most important facturing, were allowed to re- to go to a fl ower shop again, An- “shopping should not be a family ple may not have as much money measure. of migrant children start. ita Kakac, a 75-year-old Vienna outing”. as before,” he said, adding that he “It’s good that the economy is Shops, bars and public spaces pensioner, told AFP, sporting a Store owners said they were hoped people would also “change picking up,” he said. are to stay closed until at least blue mask as a red neon “Open” relieved to open again, but were their behaviour” after they real- The Alpine nation of 8.8mn AFP shelter, up from 180 in January. April 26. sign fl ashed behind her in the struggling with losses and afraid ise they could manage “without people has been spared the worst Athens Last week, a Greek youth Spain was fl attening the curve store window. of long-lasting consequences for buying new pants every week”. of the virus with some 14,000 re- support group said it was giv- on the graph, representing the “I just hope by God that it’s not their businesses. Yvan Savic, who started selling ported cases and 384 deaths. ing psychological assistance rate of growth of the outbreak, too early” to ease the lockdown, “It will take a long time for take-out as a stop-gap measure But government offi cials warn reece’s migration min- by telephone to a 10-year-old Health Minister Salvador Illa said she said. customers to come back. Some when all restaurants had to close, that easing the restrictions can ister said yesterday that Syrian boy who had spent 44 yesterday. “We are on course ... today have lost their jobs, others are said he hoped with shops reo- be reversed any time if contami- Gdozens of unaccompa- days in a police cell. The overnight death toll from we can take, as planned, the fi rst afraid, and a book is a luxury,” pening more people would pass nations rise again. nied migrant children would be The boy, who was detained the coronavirus rose to 567 yes- step toward the new normal,” said Gunnar Graessl, who reo- by. “If we have to close again, it relocated to other EU countries in February at the Greek-Al- terday from 517 a day earlier, but Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told a pened his bookstore in down- “For the moment, my turno- will be very hard to hold on fi - as a rights group described banian border whilst trying to the country reported its low- press conference. town Vienna. ver is down by 90% ... €20,000 nancially,” bookstore owner Athens’s detention conditions join family in Germany, could est increase in new cases since Restaurants, bars and schools And masks impeded having a ($22,000) in fi xed costs, I re- Graessl said. for minors as “abusive”. not immediately be physically March 18. will still remain closed until at discussion or drink together. ceived €1,000 in state aid,” he Hardware store owner Andreas “Twelve children will be re- reached because of coronavi- Total deaths climbed to 18,056. least middle of May, and public “The customer enters, buys told AFP. Zanaschka said he expected his located to Luxembourg (today) rus movement restrictions, the Some workers expressed con- events are banned until the end and leaves,” he told AFP. The central train station’s huge business to pick up again but tax- and 50 to Germany on Satur- Arsis group said. cern that the relaxation of re- of June. Lenz Dreher, a 17-year-old shopping centre is also still idling es to increase as the government day,” Migration Minister No- The coronavirus causes the strictions could trigger a new And even as shoppers returned student, said he chose not to with railway services having been struggles with the economic tis Mitarachi told Athens city Covid-19 respiratory disease. surge. slowly yesterday, social distanc- shop online for supplies for his ramped down and most stores downturn caused by the crisis. radio. Greece is sheltering some But for Roberto Aguayo, a ing and other rules remained in goldsmithing hobby but wait for staying shut. “What concerns me are the Human Rights Watch (HRW) 100,000 asylum-seekers, 50-year-old Barcelona construc- place. shops to reopen instead. Markus Handle, a 44-year-old next 20 years,” he said. earlier called on the Greek gov- mostly in camps and in hotel ernment to release hundreds of rooms and fl ats. Poll: Macron coronavirus crisis Volunteers produce see-through Woman fined €400 for taking unaccompanied minors held in The worst congestion occurs “unhygienic police cells and in camps on fi ve Aegean islands speech convinces 62% of French face masks for deaf people turtle out for a walk in Rome detention centres” because of near Turkey where there are a lack of space elsewhere. more than 36,000 people for Almost two-thirds of French people found Emmanuel A group of volunteers have begun producing face masks An Italian woman who took her pizza-sized turtle out for a “Keeping children locked up fewer than 6,100 places. Macron’s speech extending the country’s lockdown for deaf people in the southern Spanish city of Jerez de la walk has been fined €400 ($440) by the Roman police for in fi lthy police cells was always There have been two coro- convincing, according to an opinion poll published Frontera. breaking strict coronavirus confinement rules. wrong, but now it also exposes navirus outbreaks in camps on yesterday, in a sign the president’s more humble tone had The masks have material around the edges but the central Italians need a justifiable reason to be out on the street in them to the risk of Covid-19 the Greek mainland, forcing appeased rising criticism. section is made out of see-through plastic. the middle of a pandemic that has off icially claimed more infection,” HRW Greece re- authorities to lock down both Acknowledging that his country had not been suff iciently This enables lip-reading, which along with sign language than 20,000 lives in the Mediterranean country since searcher Eva Cosse said in a facilities. prepared early on to face the challenges posed by the new is a crucial part of how people with hearing diff iculties can February. statement. For this reason, the govern- coronavirus outbreak, Macron on Monday struck a more understand others and communicate. Taking your dog out for a walk is viewed as a good enough “The Greek government ment has so far resisted pres- empathetic note in contrast to the war-like rhetoric of his The normal face masks that are becoming obligatory as reason to leave your home. has a duty to end this abusive sure to move asylum seekers to previous speeches. part of anti-coronavirus measures across the globe are But it seems taking your turtle out for one is not. practise and make sure these the mainland. According to the OpinionWay poll for Les Echos newspaper, not transparent, making life harder for people who rely on The Roman police said that “the 60-year-old woman was vulnerable kids get the care On Monday, the Interna- 62% of the French found Macron’s 30-minute speech lip-reading. caught outside her home without a justifiable reason” and and protection they need,” she tional Organisation for Migra- “convincing”, while 37% said he wasn’t “very” or “at all” “At first we used the rain covers from children’s buggies fined. said. tion said that more than 2,000 convincing. to make [the masks],” volunteer Francisco Zuasti told “The woman was walking with a turtle,” the police The HRW pointed to gov- asylum-seekers in high-risk Macron extended the French lockdown until May 11, in a reporters. statement said. ernment data that more than groups would be temporarily televised address watched by a record 36.7mn people, He said that the masks open at the side so they do not Roman police spokesman Nunzio Carbone told AFP that 330 children are in police cus- moved from island camps to more than half of France’s population. steam up. the turtle was “as big as a pizza” but not wearing a leash. tody awaiting transfer to a hotels and apartments. Gulf Times Wednesday, April 15, 2020 13 INDIA

Doctors worry as W Bengal struggles with virus tests

Agencies groups, told Reuters the situation The federal health ministry did piratory illness Covid-19 are not coronavirus deaths are not being O’Brien said all national test- “While a signifi cant number of New Delhi/Kolkata in West Bengal was particularly not immediately reply to ques- being isolated soon enough. fully reported, with only a state- ing guidelines were being fol- these cases can be traced to a few dire. tions, but offi cials have previ- “If you suspect Covid and send appointed committee allowed to lowed, and denied that informa- pockets or settlements or even At around 3,000 tests for more ously said that all states are dealt the samples, either they are re- declare if a patient has died from tion was being suppressed. families, this calls for heightened octors say authorities than 90mn people, West Bengal with uniformly. fused, or the report comes back Covid-19. “There is absolutely total vigilance and preventive steps in West Bengal state are has done just 33.7 tests per mil- And Dr Shanta Dutta, who after three to four days,” said Dr Dr Pratim Sengupta, a ne- transparency,” he said. to contain any potential for the Dslowing down the detec- lion, compared to a national av- heads the federally-controlled Arjun Dasgupta from the West phrologist in Kolkata, wrote on But faced with a barrage of spread of the virus,” health de- tion of coronavirus cases with a erage of around 156.9 per million, main testing laboratory for West Bengal Doctors Forum, which Facebook that, even when coro- criticism from experts and partment sources said. cumbersome, bureaucratic test- and 442 per million in Rajasthan. Bengal, said it had the capacity to represents 19,000 doctors. navirus patients were dying with political opponents that the Disinfection of the household ing process that is putting health Offi cials from West Bengal’s conduct around 1,000 tests a day, Services in at least four ma- symptoms of respiratory failure, number of tests in the state was or hospital ward or the area/lo- workers at risk. health department declined to but was not receiving that many jor government hospitals and the committee was not citing too low, the health department cality concerned would also be Experts have fl agged inade- comment but Derek O’Brien, a samples submitted by medics. two private facilities in the state Covid-19 as the cause of death. said it would step up vigilance undertaken. quate testing as a concern across leader of the state’s ruling Tri- But doctors complain that capital Kolkata have been hit af- “It’s open shameless false play and enhance fever surveillance “In the urban areas, the teams India, where more than 10,000 of namool Congress party, said fed- state authorities’ approval is ter doctors and nurses came into with the truth,” Sengupta wrote, through house-to-house visits constituted for dengue surveil- the 1.3bn population have been eral authorities had not provided needed for each test, and is regu- contact with patients who later sharing an X-ray of the lungs and in identified high-risk spots - lance might be utilised for this found to have the virus. enough testing kits. larly refused, meaning that pa- tested positive, doctors and a a CT scan from a coronavirus pa- geographical areas showing a purpose too, after providing But a dozen doctors, including “No state has the mandate to tients suspected to be suff ering state offi cial said. tient declared to have died of re- higher number of infected peo- them orientation material for representatives of three medics’ get the kits on their own,” he said. from the highly contagious res- Some doctors also believe nal failure. ple. surveillance,” the sources added. Banks issue gag orders to staff over branch overcrowding

Reuters spokesman for the Finance Min- Mumbai istry said the Department of Fi- nancial Services, which oversees state-owned banks, had not is- tate-owned banks in India sued any gag orders and was “al- have barred employees from ways looking for honest feedback Sposting pictures, video clips to improve the customer services”. or messages on social media on Bankers say they are now also issues such as overcrowding at being harassed by police for fail- bank branches during the corona- ing to ensure the social distancing virus crisis, according to multiple required to help curb the spread of sources and documents seen by coronavirus. Reuters. “Instead of helping us the police Banks have seen a surge in traffi c are threatening to arrest us,” said after Prime Minister Narendra Modi one bank offi cial, who asked not outlined a package of anti-crisis to be named due to the restrictions measures including direct cash pay- imposed by the state-owned bank ments to millions of poorer people, where he works. who have been queuing at branches The All India Bank Offi cers’ to access the funds. confederation, a union of bank Some branch staff have com- employees, has raised the matter plained on social media of the dif- with federal and state authorities, fi culty in imposing social distanc- requesting them not to penalise A health worker walks inside the Chennai trade centre, which is being converted into an isolation ward with the capacity of 600 beds, yesterday. ing in such conditions, earning a bank employees. rebuke from employers and even “So far we’re neither getting from the police. help to manage the crowds, nor are The State Bank of India, the we being allowed to voice com- country’s largest lender, said in a plaints about the critical lapses notice sent to its employees that and failures of social distancing at disciplinary action would be taken banks,” said another bank employ- for violating the code of conduct if ee who also requested anonymity. they spoke on social media about The Finance Ministry spokes- Covid-19 lockdown the functioning of its branches. man said the government had or- “On scrutiny of these posts it is dered state authorities “to render observed that many of these social all possible help to the bankers in media users are our employees,” implementing social distancing”. said the letter, adding that some Bank unions said they had posts had made disparaging com- also asked for protective gear for ments about the bank, its man- branch offi cials but this had not extended until May 3 agement and policies. yet been provided as India is still A similar memo warning em- struggling to meet the safety re- AFP “limited relaxations” from April ready announced lockdown New Delhi alone is providing unrest” if it did not receive fi nan- ployees against social media posts quirements of health workers. New Delhi 20 for districts with no cases, and extensions. hundreds of thousands of free cial relief. has also been issued by other India has extended a lockdown new guidelines for industry and The World Health Organisa- meals. The Commerce Ministry has state-owned banks including on its 1.3bn people until at least agriculture would be released tion yesterday praised India’s Farmers have complained of a also reportedly urged the govern- Punjab National Bank, a commu- May 3 to combat the spread of ndia’s nationwide coronavi- today. decision to extend the lockdown, lack of workers to harvest crops ment to consider opening more nication seen by Reuters said. coronavirus. rus lockdown, the biggest in The announcement comes as saying “it would go a long way in while snarl-ups of thousands of activities “with reasonable safe- E-mails sent to both banks India has so far reported more Ithe world covering 1.3bn peo- debate rages around the world arresting the virus spread”. trucks not allowed to move be- guards” even if the lockdown is seeking comment remained un- than 10,000 cases of the Covid-19 ple, will be extended until May 3, on how to lift restrictions so the The shutdown, with strict cause of the lockdown have ham- extended. answered. disease caused by the virus, in- Prime Minister Narendra Modi economic carnage of the pan- limits on activity, has been dev- pered food transport. On the deserted streets of Del- Asked about the memos, a cluding 358 deaths. said yesterday. demic can be eased without a astating for the economy — and “We have tried to keep the in- hi, Manoj, a businessman, said The move comes despite com- new spike in infections. in particular for the poor. terests of the poor and the daily the extended lockdown would plaints from millions of poor, a Offi cial fi gures suggest India Millions of daily wage labour- wage workers in mind while further devastate the economy. vast underclass who have been so far been relatively unscathed ers suddenly lost their jobs, forc- making these new guidelines,” “People are going to lose jobs, left almost completely without by the epidemic, with around ing hundreds of thousands to Modi said in his 24-minute ad- businesses are going to shut support as jobs have vanished 10,800 cases and 353 deaths. travel hundreds of kilometres dress. down, unemployment is going to and incomes dried up. Some experts say not enough back to their home villages, often “The central and state gov- rise and hungry people are going “From the economic angle, tests have been conducted and on foot. ernments are working together to die,” he told AFP. we have paid a big price,” Modi the true number of infections is Some died on the way, while to ensure that the farmers don’t Even before the pandemic, the said.”But the lives of the people much higher. others were shunned by locals face any problems.” Indian economy was stuttering, of India are far more valuable.” And with some of the most when they made it back. Reserve Bank of India Gover- with the highest unemployment “From the experiences of the crowded cities on the planet, One clip that went viral on nor Shaktikanta Das has called for decades. last few days it is clear that the there are fears that numbers social media showed a group of the coronavirus an “invisible as- Growth had slowed to about path we have chosen is correct.” could take off and overwhelm the migrants being hosed down with sassin” that could wreak havoc 5.0% before the pandemic and India’s three-week-old lock- shaky healthcare system. chemicals by local offi cials. on the economy. some analysts say it could slump down, in force since March 25, Several states including Others have been stranded in A restaurant industry group, a to 1.5-2.0% this year — way be- was scheduled to end at midnight Maharashtra - the state with cities in cramped, unsanitary sector that employs millions of low the level needed to provide Staff prepare face shields for local authorities at the Folds Design Studio yesterday. the highest number of cases, conditions where the virus could people nationwide, warned on jobs for the millions coming into in Navi Mumbai yesterday. Modi said there would be Tamil Nadu and Odisha al- spread quickly. Monday there could be “social the labour market each month. Air pollution puts poor more at risk from coronavirus?

Reuters what is locally dubbed the “air- to (the novel coronavirus),” said Planetary Health. “Instead of planning on do- pollution because they are more New Delhi pocalypse”. Kumar, founder of the Lung Care Kumar cited recent studies ing something in the next 20 or likely to be involved in physical Environmentalists say this air Foundation. that draw links between air pol- 30 years, we must use this sad labour that requires exertion that pollution hits poor and socially Those suff ering from malnu- lution, Covid-19 and mortality episode to fast-forward to a clean is hazardous when air quality is rom street sweepers and marginalised communities most trition also have weak immune rates, including in Italy, one of energy economy in a rapid way,” low,” he said. farmers to rural house- as they often live and work in or systems and are more prone the world’s hardest-hit countries he added. Tuberculosis is an example of Fwives, poor people who close to industrial and commer- to infections, giving them low with more than 20,000 deaths. Health experts said that while a respiratory infection where In- breathe some of the world’s dirti- cial areas. chances of fi ghting Covid-19, he Indians have been breathing air quality may have improved dians have been at risk of worse est air are at greater risk of dying In addition, they tend to burn told the Thomson Reuters Foun- easier since a national lockdown for now, conditions linked to outcomes due to exposure to poor from the new coronavirus than wood, dung, kerosene or coal dation. came into force on March 25 to long-term exposure to pollution air quality, he added. wealthier groups, health experts indoors to cook and heat their Overall, nine in 10 people on combat the coronavirus out- like asthma and bronchitis were India is home to the world’s have warned. homes. the planet breathe poor-quality break, which has infected more harder to tackle. largest number of TB patients, India is home to about half Long exposure to health- air, which kills an estimated 7mn than 10,000 and killed about 350 Respiratory problems can also according to the WHO. of the world’s 50 most polluted harming emissions can weaken people each year, according to people. be made worse by “co-morbid- Kumar said a lack of tests cities, according to Swiss fi rm immune systems, making it the World Health Organisation With cars off the road and fac- ities” - or existing medical con- and information so far made it IQAir, with emissions fuelled by harder to fi ght off the coronavi- (WHO). tories closed, skyscrapers usually ditions - like hypertension and “impossible” to know whether industry, vehicle exhaust fumes rus, which in severe cases causes More than 90% of air pol- shrouded in smog have been visi- diabetes, said Ramanan Laxmi- the poor are facing more severe and coal-fi red power plants. shortness of breath and lung fail- lution-related deaths occur in ble under blue skies and residents narayan, director of the Wash- forms of Covid-19. New Delhi was named in Feb- ure, said Arvind Kumar, a leading low- and middle-income coun- say they can spot more stars than ington DC-based Centre for Dis- Those with symptoms are be- A combination picture shows birds ruary as the capital with the dirt- chest surgeon in New Delhi. tries, mainly in Asia and Africa, it usual. ease Dynamics, Economics and ing admitted to local government flying next to electricity pylons iest air. “The poor will be far more vul- found in a 2018 report. Kumar said India should take Policy. facilities, where resources are on October 30, 2019 and after air Dust from building sites and nerable because poverty is linked India’s toxic air claimed a cue and start moving faster to “The poor are more likely to usually limited and tests for lung pollution level started to drop during smoke from burning rubbish to air pollution - and air pollu- 1.24mn lives in 2017, according to ditch dirty fossil fuels and adopt have these co-morbidities and function unlikely to happen, he a 21-day nationwide lockdown in the and crop fi elds also contribute to tion is linked to higher mortality a study published by The Lancet renewable energy. are exposed to higher levels of air said. old quarters of Delhi. Gulf Times 14 Wednesday, April 15, 2020 INDIA

ACCIDENT CRIME JUDICIARY POLITICS SOCIETY Doctor on bicycle dies TikTok video lands Court halts sale of book UP Congress leader’s Man accused of refusing after hit by car in Delhi man in police lockup on Singhvi’s complaint death triggers infighting to eat food cooked by Dalit

A doctor returning from work was killed after a He wanted to become a TikTok celebrity by A New Delhi court has temporarily restrained The death of veteran Congress leader Ram A 35-year-old man has been booked by police speeding car allegedly hit his bicycle in south distributing liquor during the lockdown and a London-based lawyer from selling his Krishna Dwivedi last Friday has again fuelled for refusing to eat food at a quarantine centre Delhi’s Saket area, police said. The incident by posting a video online but that landed him forthcoming book which allegedly contains infighting in the Uttar Pradesh unit of the on the ground that it had been cooked by took place in broad daylight on a deserted behind bars. Hyderabad police arrested the defamatory statements against Congress leader party. Dwivedi was among 10 veteran Congress a Dalit. Reports said Siraj Ahmad, a native road. The police said they received a call 29-year-old man and his associate for supplying and lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi and his leaders expelled by the party in November last of Bhujouli Khurd village in Kushinagar 6:28pm from Max Hospital on Monday that the liquor to daily wage labourers on Sunday at family members. Singhvi had filed a defamation year. His expulsion was seen as an attempt by district of Uttar Pradesh, was staying at the doctor, J P Yadav, had been admitted after a Champapet. Kumar had uploaded the video on case against Sarosh Zaiwalla for allegedly linking young Congress leaders to oust committed quarantine centre along with others. On road accident. The hospital also informed the TikTok and some other social media platforms. his father L M Singhvi to Bofors case in the book. cadres from the party. Young Congress Friday, the village head, Lilawati Devi, in the police that the doctor subsequently died of A TikTok enthusiast, he was inspired by a similar District Judge Sanjeev Jain of Patiala House leaders, who have been accusing state party absence of the cook, prepared food in the injuries. Police said Yadav who was working at video posted in Punjab. “He did all this to go viral Court on Monday said that “the reputation of president Ajay Kumar Lallu of pursuing anti- quarantine centre for all the five people but the Municipal Corporation of Delhi dispensary on social media and become popular on the the plaintiff is at stake. His reputation would upper caste politics, have now revived their Siraj refused to eat. Police registered a case at Mehrauli, was going home on his cycle as video sharing platform,” an off icial said. The two suff er irreparable harm if injunctions prayed campaign against him. “The veteran leader against him under the SC/ST Act on Monday. his car had some problem. “Around 3.30pm, men saw the daily wage labourers sitting near a for is not granted as much as he would suff er was so demoralised by his expulsion that he The village head had lodged a written when he reached the Police Training School at shop. He distributed the liquor he was carrying further loss to his reputation.” The court also could not fight his illness. The manner in which complaint with the police on Friday and also Malviya Nagar traffic intersection he was hit to seven of them. Kumar told the police that asked directed Zaiwalla to restrain from making his expulsion was revoked was even more informed sub-divisional magistrate Desh by a car which fled after the accident,” said a he wanted to help the labourers experiencing any unsubstantiated and ex-factor defamatory shameful,” said Konark Dixit, who is allegedly Deepak Singh and block development officer police officer. withdrawal symptoms. statements against Singhvi and his family. running a campaign against Lallu. Ramakant. Thousands of migrants defy lockdown, are caned by cops

Agencies Siddique tried to calm them other parts of the country as A man walks on scattered footwear after a large crowd of migrants were forced to disperse by police after they gathered outside a railway Mumbai down, appealed to them to dis- well,” Utagi said. station in Mumbai yesterday. perse and promised to take up Leaders from the Bharatiya their issue. Janata Party (BJP) that rules at housands of migrant “The current situation is the the federal level instead accused workers and slum poor in result of the federal government state authorities of laxity in pro- TMumbai defi ed stay-at- not being able to take a call on viding food rations to the work- home orders yesterday to protest arranging a way back home for ers. Coronavirus mortality rate in the extension of the country’s migrant labour,” Aaditya Thack- BJP MP Poonam Mahajan coronavirus lockdown. eray, leader of Maharashtra’s said it was the responsibility of Footage on news channels ruling Shiv Sena party, and state the state government to make showed huge crowds gathered tourism minister, said on Twit- separate plans for the migrants, near the Bandra railway station ter. which it had failed to do result- Maharashtra highest in world in the late afternoon, jostling “They don’t want food or shel- ing in yesterday’s chaos. each other and violating social ter, they want to go back home.” BJP state vice-president Kirit distancing norms, resulting in a Former Mumbai Congress Somaiya asked the government IANS experts is headed by Director- week; Spain opened its account ASHA/Anganwadi/ frontline dangerous situation in Mumbai, president Sanjay Nirupam said: how the crowd was allowed to Mumbai Health, to advise the govern- with one case in the fi rst week to workers,” said the handbook. a city with the highest number of “This was bound to happen. fl out lockdown norms. ment how to reduce the number zoom to 152,446 in the 10th week. The government has empha- Covid-19 cases in India. People have no food to eat, they “It’s a matter of deep concern. of mortalities in Maharashtra,” Meanwhile, ramping up its sised on having a face cover for The police, which issued sev- are prevented from returning What about intelligence, and aharashtra has emerged Tope said. fi ght against the coronavirus in everyone in the community - in- eral warnings, had to resort to to their native villages. For how why today? The state govern- as a global hotspot of Yesterday, with 18 new deaths densely-populated hotspots, es- cluding children older than three caning to disperse the crowds. long can they remain like this? ment must treat this incident se- Mthe coronavirus pan- raising the toll to 178, the state pecially after seven deaths were years - as people with no symp- The workers, made jobless by The government’s fi gures are riously and modify its schemes demic in terms of mortality rate, achieved a mortality rate of 6.84%. reported from Mumbai’s Dharavi toms can infect others. the lockdown, were demanding merely on paper. For how long to provide food to the migrants,” the latest fi gures reveal. In comparison, with 5,702 new slum, the central government “Those living in close proxim- they be sent back to their homes. and to how many people can any Somaiya said. According to the offi cial fi gures deaths, the total global deaths yesterday issued guidelines, ity with others should distance The crowds also comprised government keep feeding freely? Earlier yesterday, Modi an- released yesterday, the mortality stood at 111,652 or the mortality warning that poorly-maintained themselves as far as possible, poor from nearby slums who Is there no alternative?” nounced the extension of the rate - or percentage of deaths - is rate stood at 6.29%. community toilets can serve as a ventilate the room with a fan and came in search of food, witnesses Congress spokesman Sachin lockdown until May 3, but said the highest in the world, giving Against this, the Indian av- major source of viral infection. open window. Always use face said. Sawant said if the prime minister he would consider relaxing re- a huge cause of concern to the erage mortality rate was only The government’s Principal covers when in close proximity.” By 6pm, police spokesman had given time to the migrants strictions in parts of the coun- health authorities. 3.27% with 32 new deaths and a Scientifi c Adviser K Vijay Ra- The handbook also emphasised Pranaya Ashok said “the crowd to return home, they would not try after a week considering the The data from April 10-14 total 338 of casualties. ghavan released a handbook that fruits and vegetables should had dispersed” adding the “situ- have protested on the streets of hardships faced by the poor. compiled by the Public Health The total number of corona outlining guidelines, created be thoroughly washed, and milk ation is under control, and the Mumbai, Delhi, Surat and other The lockdown that began on Department and analysed by the cases recorded in the world yes- specifi cally for areas where toi- bags and other packaged food entire area will be sanitised” as a places. March 25, has hit millions of Medical Education and Drugs terday were 1,773,084; India had lets, washing or bathing facilities items should also be washed with precautionary measure. “The state government can poor and those in rural areas at Department (MEDD), shows Ma- 10,369 and Maharashtra 2,684. are shared and which state, local soap and water before use. The gathering took place close provide them food, but cannot a time when the Indian economy harashtra not only continues to On the previous four days too, bodies and communities can “Individuals must not def- to ‘Matoshri’, the private resi- send them to their homes in view is struggling. surpass the global mortality rate, a similar situation was noticed. adopt to contain the spread of ecate in the open and instead dence of Chief Minister Uddhav of the lockdown,” Sawant said. Migrant workers, mostly daily the state, in fact leads the world. The country had only three Covid-19, especially in densely- must use toilets. The toilet Thackeray. A leader of the Trade Unions wage earners, who lost their jobs Taking a serious note of the coronavirus cases consistently populated areas. must be kept clean after every Several of the migrants said Joint Action Committee, Vish- and incomes have been the worst increasing fatalities, Health for the fi rst four weeks, which The guidelines categorically use. Poorly-used or maintained they could not continue to live in was Utagi, said there were over hit. Minister Rajesh Tope yesterday increased to 724 in the eighth emphasise on catalysing be- community toilets can serve as a Mumbai, away from their homes 2mn migrants stuck in Mumbai Similar scenes were witnessed set up two high-level experts’ week, but shot up by more than haviour change and promoting major source of disease. To pre- or families in diff erent parts of since the March 25 lockdown, in New Delhi last month after committees - one for Mumbai 10 times to touch 7,447 cases in strict adherence to hygiene and vent infection caused by people India after the lockdown was ex- besides 3,000 fi shermen strand- desperate workers crowded bus and another for rest of the state, the 11th week of the pandemic sanitation practices. who do not take proper precau- tended till May 3 by Prime Min- ed at Gholvad in south Gujarat. terminals days after the lock- to probe the reasons for the high entering the sub-continent. “It is important that all pa- tions while using toilets, the fol- ister Narendra Modi. “They have no food, no work, down was announced. number of deaths and suggest By comparison, the US’s jour- tients in the community with lowing best practices must be They asked the police to make no homes, no transport to go Hundreds of thousands of remedial measures. ney started with 11 cases in the fi rst ILI (Infl uenza-like Illness) observed,” said the handbook, arrangements for them to travel home. How can they survive? workers had then made long and “The Mumbai committee is week to 395,030 in the 12th week; symptoms such as fever, chills, insisting on maintaining safe back to their respective towns The government machinery is dangerous journeys home amid headed by Dr Avinash Supe and Italy began with three in the fi rst dry cough, runny nose etc. im- distancing from each other near and villages. not responding to the challenge fears they could carry the virus the state committee with six week to touch 147,577 in the 10th mediately report to the nearest toilets and in other public areas. Congress legislator Zeeshan and this is a human tragedy in to remote areas in the country. We want money more than Paswan comes to aid appreciation, says Kerala of ‘absentee’ offi cers IANS lockdown, it was found that IANS very bad, as the economy, espe- but we still have a long way to go. New Delhi many offi cers and staff were not Thiruvananthapuram cially rural economy, is tumbling. Singapore is the best example - attending offi ces and it became It needs to be checked,” he said. after a slowdown in positive cas- a tough task to manage the de- Devasom and Tourism Min- es, it picked up there. So, let us all am Vilas Paswan, the partment, sources said. he Kerala government ister Kadakampally Surendran continue to maintain strict vigil Minister of Consumer Af- On Monday, the Department yesterday said it needed said the state cabinet will meet and wait till tomorrow’s cabinet Rfairs, Food and Public Dis- of Consumer Aff airs, witnessing Tmoney more than appre- today to decide how to tackle the meet,” Shailaja said. tribution, yesterday cancelled an a very low turnout in offi ces over ciation for the work it has done situation until May 3 when the zOver a 1,000 students from order which had warned of seri- the Covid-19 threat, had asked to mitigate the impact of a na- extended lockdown ends. Kerala studying in Australia’s ous action against offi cers who its offi cers to clarify if they were tion-wide lockdown and contain “The coronavirus fi gures re- Victoria state will get relief with were reluctant to join offi ce amid willing to join, or else get them- the coronavirus pandemic. veal that Kerala has done quite the the Melbourne Secular Fo- the Covid-19 threat. selves relieved. “The only additional money well. The cabinet will decide rum, a body consisting mostly Paswan said he had issued an The ministry in the offi ce mem- that Kerala received is mere on how we move forward after of Keralites, deciding to support order to cancel the ministry’s orandum sought “intimation by Rs230 crore and that too for looking into the guidelines of the them fi nancially and otherwise. offi ce memorandum warning of- all offi cer/staff of Department of Covid-19 work. The funds we Centre,” said Surendran. Forum’s chief co-ordinator fi cers not willing to return to of- Consumer Aff airs regarding their received to tide over revenue Local Self Government Minis- Thiruvallam Bhasi said since fi ce that they could be removed. unwillingness/continuation of defi cit is diff erent - we would ter A C Moideen said local farm there is a lockdown in Australia “I have come to know about their services in the department”. have got it anyway,” said Finance produce has to reach markets too, several students who also do this offi ce memorandum. Sec- The memorandum stated: Minister Thomas Issac, who has as the rural economy revolves part-time work to sustain them- retary, DoCA has been instruct- “All the offi cers/offi cials who are been demanding more liberal fi - around this. selves, are aff ected. ed to withdraw this OM (offi ce unwilling to continue in this de- nancial assistance from the cen- Health Minister K K Shailaja “During Easter time, we dis- memorandum) and issue clarifi - partment may intimate the same tral government. stressed the need for maintain- tributed food kits to around 150 cation,” he tweeted. to establishment section by April “The need of the hour now is ing social distancing and urged students, but Victoria being a big “Offi ces shall continue to 20 so that necessary action may for the Centre to immediately all to strictly observe the lock- state and with numerous Kerala function as per MHA (Ministry of be taken for relieving them.” hold a videoconference with all down which Prime Minister students studying at far away Home Aff airs) and DoPT (Depart- Amid the Covid-19 threat, the state fi nance ministers. The Cen- Narendra Modi yesterday ex- locations, we decided to fi nan- ment of Personnel and Training) Department of Consumer Aff airs tre should borrow more money tended until May 3. cially support them and decided orders during lockdown.” has a crucial role to play as it is from the RBI and give it to the “Our advantage is that we have to credit the money to their ac- Rental bicycles are seen stacked outside a park during a In view of the coronavirus responsible for maintaining food states. Otherwise, things will be been able to contain the spread, counts,” he said. nationwide lockdown in Navi Mumbai yesterday. infection and the subsequent supplies and distribution. Gulf Times Wednesday, April 15, 2020 15 LATIN AMERICA

Corruption thrives in Colombia during coronavirus outbreak

Latin America Colombian authorities March, which allows mayors, nearly $20.6mn in apparent $2,840 — Cordoba said. the hunger of the most have detected widespread governors and other off icials overcharges in some 8,100 “The alarms have gone off vulnerable Colombians overcharging for food and to directly procure necessary contracts signed by mayors and some officials have into a banquet,” Carrillo medical supplies meant to products. “We have seen various and governors’ offices, he said. backpedaled on the contracts. said on Twitter last week. shelters struggle help the Andean country deal cases of alleged overcharging The overruns account for 10% There are people taking “It is unconscionable and with its coronavirus outbreak, in contracts for food, gurneys of the contracts’ overall value. advantage and everyone inhumane for the corrupt Colombia’s comptroller said and biomedical equipment,” In eastern Arauca province thinks they can just bring to take advantage of the yesterday. Colombians are comptroller Carlos Felipe on the border with Venezuela, (coronavirus) tests over from crisis.” Both the comptroller to help women under obligatory nationwide Cordoba said in a phone cans of tuna meant to be given China or ventilators or medical and the procurator general quarantine until April 27. interview. to people from vulnerable equipment,” Cordoba said. “We have recommended the More than 2,800 people have Corruption is a hot button populations were purchased must be careful.” government of President Ivan been confirmed infected with political issue in Colombia. for about $5 each. They usually Some mayors and governors Duque centralise purchases the coronavirus so far and over Graft costs the country an cost about $1.50. Antibacterial are using grocery distribution and tenders to avoid in lockdowns 100 in Colombia have died of estimated $12.9bn a year — just soap was sold in one contract to poor populations for political corruption and price gouging. the Covid-19 disease caused by over 4% of its gross domestic at $8.50 — nearly five times its ends, procurator general Colombia was ranked 96 on Thomson Reuters Foundation their cell phone...and he’s the virus. product — according to the normal price — while gurneys Fernando Carrillo has said. Transparency International’s Bogota/Mexico City watching them all day,” said The government declared a general comptroller’s office. were priced at nearly double “We won’t let the country rating last year, out of Nina Chaparro, a gender rights state of emergency in mid- Cordoba’s office has detected their regular cost — some unscrupulous corrupt turn 180 nations. researcher at Dejusticia, a Co- he unassuming domes- lombian rights group. “At the tic violence shelter in moment, there are no escape Tthe Mexican border city routes,” she said. of Tapachula has been fi lled The Digna Ochoa Human to capacity since January, and Rights Centre in Mexico’s manager Elsa Simon already southern state of Chiapas nor- had to refuse three women mally receives fi ve to 10 victims seeking to escape abusive part- of domestic violence per day. ners. But in the week before the With coronavirus lockdown country declared a health measures intensifying, Simon emergency on March 30, only worries she will be forced to two people arrived, according turn away many more as shel- to Jazmin Hernandez, who runs ters struggle with rising do- the centre’s legal department. mestic violence and femicide The decrease does not indi- across Latin America. cate less abuse but shows vic- Femicide — when a woman tims with fewer opportunities is killed because of her gender to seek help, she said. — claims the lives of a dozen “An aggressive person’s be- women per day in Latin Amer- haviour is control, and control ica, which is home to 14 of the over absolutely everything,” 25 countries with the highest she said.”If women are spend- femicide rates in the world. ing 24 hours a day with their Nearly 70 shelters for female aggressor, when are they go- victims of violence are spread ing to be able to make a phone across Mexico as part of the call?” non-profi t National Network A shelter in Brazil’s Mato of Shelters. Grosso do Sul state was less They often operate on shoe- than half full, and Salette Mar- string budgets, and their loca- inho de Sa, superintendent at tions are kept secret. the state’s secretariat for hu- With families shut in at home man rights, said she expected under offi cial guidelines to help the number of victims seeking fi ght the spread of the corona- shelter to fall as abuse contin- virus, tensions and spats over ued. the simplest household chores “We’re sure of one thing — to weightier concerns like los- violence hasn’t diminished,” ing a job can easily escalate into she said. violence. To address the crisis, gov- People go through a spray of disinfectant solution at the entrance of a train station as a preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus in Osasco, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, yesterday. “Their homes become cha- ernments including Chile, Ar- otic,” Simon told the Thomson gentina and Colombia have Reuters Foundation.”Women expanded hotlines, added on- and kids are stressed. Right line and WhatsApp messaging now they can’t leave, because services and kept shelters and we can’t guarantee them what family courts open. will happen out there.” The Mexican government Countries worldwide have has declared shelters for female Brazil virus cases likely reported increases in domes- victims of violence to be es- tic violence under coronavi- sential services to remain open rus lockdowns, prompting the during the pandemic. United Nations to call for ur- About 3,000 cases of coro- gent government action. navirus have been confi rmed in In Brazil, the state hotline the country. 12 times higher: study “Ligue 180” for callers to re- But an annual grant pro- port domestic violence record- gramme that funds shelters Reuters there are many more cases of the death toll rose to 1,328 on Monday, “The high degree of under-no- banned non-indigenous people ed an 18% rise in complaints was only started this week, lat- Brasilia virus than are being counted, with while the number of confi rmed tifi cation could give a false impres- from entering tribal lands to stop from March 17 to 25, compared er than expected, leaving them the study estimating only 8% of cases hit 23,430, according to sion about control of the disease, the spread of coronavirus in their with the fi rst two weeks of the more strapped than usual for cases are being offi cially reported. health ministry data. and consequently, could lead to a villages and will distribute masks, month. money. razil likely has 12 times more The government has focused on As of last Thursday, Brazil had decline in containment measures,” gloves, test kits and food to their In Bogota, a government- Simon resorted to paying for cases of the new coronavi- testing serious cases rather than all had around 127,000 suspected the centre said. communities, offi cials said. run domestic abuse hotline urgent needs like antibacterial Brus than are being offi cially suspected cases, according to the cases and carried out just short of The center has thus far been The epidemic has raised fears received four times as many gel and face masks with a credit reported by the government, with consortium, known as the Center 63,000 tests, ministry fi gures in- accurate in predicting the evolu- that brazil’s 850,000 indigenous too little testing and long waits to for Health Operations and Intel- dicate. tion of the virus in Brazil, with the people risk being decimated by calls than usual during the fi rst card. confi rm the results, according to a ligence. A health ministry offi cial said number of confi rmed coronavirus the virus because they have no weekend of the lockdown that Inside the shelter in Brazil, study. The centre and medical profes- more than 93,000 tests are still cases through March 30 falling defences against diseases brought started in the Colombian capi- residents were keeping their Researchers at a consortium of sionals have also complained of being processed for results. within the range that the research- from outside and many live in tal on March 20. distance from one another, Brazilian universities and insti- long wait times to get test results. Year to date, the number of hos- ers previously predicted. communal houses where social Yet a rise in complaints may taking turns using the kitchen tutes examined the ratio of cases Health Minister Luiz Henrique pitalisations for severe respira- The researchers are now pre- distancing is not possible. not refl ect the true scale of vio- and laundry facilities to help resulting in deaths through April Mandetta has said that it is diffi - tory symptoms has been over three dicting that by April 20 the So far, health authorities report- lence if women fi nd it harder to prevent the spread of the vi- 10 and compared it with data on cult to distribute tests in Brazil be- times higher than usual for the number of cases will grow to ed three deaths of indigenous peo- seek help, experts said. rus. the expected death rate from the cause of the size of the country but time of year, but only 12% of those 25,164 in its most optimistic sce- ple, including a 15-year-old youth “There are women who sim- “These are measures that we World Health Organisation. acknowledges that testing needs to have been confi rmed as Covid-19, nario and 60,413 cases in its most from the vast reservation where ply can’t make calls because have to take,” said Marinho de The much higher-than-expect- improve. the severe respiratory disease pessimistic. 25,000 Yanomami live on the bor- their partner has confi scated Sa. ed death rate in Brazil indicates Offi cially, Brazil’s coronavirus caused by the new coronavirus. Meanwhile the government has der with Venezuela.

Detained Ecuador landslide US plans new aid triggers oil spill

Reuters the city’s potable water director. to Central America Quito “This was big, something like this has never happened,” Baez AFP Pompeo said in a statement. cline in arrivals is largely due said in a telephone interview. Washington “This funding will support to ramped-up enforcement by cuadorean authorities Holger Gallo, the president of programmes to continue our Mexico, the transit point for vir- scrambled to limit the en- the Panduyaku indigenous group joint eff orts to deter illegal immi- tually all Central American mi- Evironmental impact of a in Sucumbios province, said pol- resident Donald Trump’s gration to the US.” grants. crude oil spill in the country’s lution in the river from the spill administration said it Facing threats by Trump to Amazon region, where pipeline was visible to members of his Pwould seek new aid for “This funding will support impose tariff s that could devas- bursts prompted by a landslide community. Central America in recognition programmes to continue tate its economy, Mexico in June caused crude to enter the Coca “Indigenous communities feel of eff orts to curb emigration, a our joint eff orts to deter agreed to let migrants stay on river. aff ected because our livelihoods year after abruptly cutting off illegal immigration to the its soil as the US processes their The energy ministry said that come from hunting and fi shing,” assistance. US” asylum claims. it had placed barriers around Gallo told Reuters. “Our way of Trump, whose hard line Mexico has also deployed its the spill in an area home to sev- life will be seriously aff ected.” against immigration is one of his Pompeo said that money National Guard to deter migrants eral indigenous communities and The government and OCP said signature issues, in March 2019 would also back security pro- from crossing, although it has re- near the source of drinking water they would assist with potable said he would end all $450mn in grammes and assist economic fused to let them seek asylum in for the city of El Coca, with some water supply if it became neces- assistance El Salvador, Honduras development led by the private Mexico rather than the US. 45,000 residents. sary. and Nicaragua. sector. Advocates for the migrants say State-run Petroecuador, Both OCP and Petroecuador Secretary of State Mike Pom- Pompeo had already said in that the arrangement violates US which manages the SOTE pipe- said they would begin clean- peo said that the three countries October that the US was reopen- international commitments and line, and private Heavy Crude ing the banks of the Quijos and in the impoverished, violence- ing targeted assistance. that the Central Americans often Pipeline (OCP) said they had de- Coca rivers, and were installing ravaged “Northern Triangle” had His latest statement did not remain at risk in Mexico. ployed six teams across several temporary pipelines to continue worked to address US concerns, reveal figures but said he had The US apprehended or re- areas to “contain the spill.” pumping crude until the pipes with the number of migrants ar- informed Congress of the deci- fused entry to more than 144,000 Authorities have not yet pro- could be repaired. riving at the US southern border sion. people on the southern border vided an estimate for how much Ecuador produces some decreasing 76% since a peak in Critics had questioned the in May 2019, a number that has crude was lost due to the pipeline 530,000 barrels per day (bpd) of May 2019. wisdom of cutting off aid to Cen- steadily gone down, according to ruptures. crude, the cash-strapped coun- “To support further progress, tral America, noting that US as- the Customs and Border Protec- El Coca had preventatively try’s main source of export rev- additional targeted department sistance aimed to reduce the dire tion agency. The Peruvian National Police detain Chinese citizen Zhang shifted its water supply to an- enue. of state and United States Agency crime and poverty that had led so Guatemala in particular has Tianxing for the unauthorised use of stolen Covid-19 tests in a other nearby river, the Payami- The government has said the for International Development many migrants to fl ee. sought to build relations with street in Lima. no, due to the spill and had faced incident will not aff ect crude ex- funding will be made available,” Experts believe the sharp de- Trump. some disruption, said Juan Baez, ports or domestic fuel supply. Gulf Times 16 Wednesday, April 15, 2020 PAKISTAN

Mission in Spain Coronavirus lockdown stays open to serve extended by two weeks Pakistanis „ Some industries to reopen in phases Khan said that the agriculture Internews „ Restrictions extended for two months across Punjab sector will also remain open due Islamabad to upcoming harvesting of wheat. Reuters/DPA/Internews These other industries are He said consultations will be Islamabad/Rawalpindi deemed as “low-risk” and would held with the ulema of various he consulate of a country be allowed to reopen in phases, if schools of thought to make prep- or the consular services’ they adhere to safety guidelines. arations for the upcoming holy Tsection of its embassy rime Minister Imran Khan Educational institutions will month of Ramadan. is usually the fi rst for its na- has announced a two- remain closed, however, and Meanwhile, Special Assistant tionals to turn to in case of an Pweek extension to the na- public gatherings will not be al- to the Prime Minister on Nation- emergency while abroad, but tionwide shutdown to curb the lowed for another two weeks. al Security Division Dr Moeed the coronavirus pandemic has spread of the novel coronavirus, Pakistan, which has already Yusuf said that six airports of forced diplomatic missions, not but said that some industries completed a three week lock- the country are being partially only of Pakistan but most other would reopen in phases. down, has reported 5,716 cases opened. countries of the world, especial- The coronavirus causes the with 96 deaths. He said that around 35,000 ly those located in the disease Covid-19 respiratory disease. The latest numbers remain stranded Pakistanis want to re- hotspots, to either close down or The fi rst industry to reopen 30% lower than government pro- turn to the country as soon as go online. would be construction, the prime jections of over 18,000 cases and possible. A look at websites of Paki- minister said in a televised ad- 190 deaths, Special Assistant to Yusuf said that the govern- stani missions in Milan, New dress to the nation. the Prime Minister on Health Dr ment’s priority is to bring back York, Washington, Vancouver, “That lockdown, those re- Zafar Mirza said. the Pakistani labour unemployed Toronto, Paris, just to cite a few strictions on gatherings will The health minister said that Prime Minister Khan is seen on a television screen, announcing the extension of the country-wide due to lockdown abroad, released instances, have put out notices continue for another two weeks,” standard operating procedures lockdown by two weeks, due to the ongoing spread of the coronavirus disease. prisoners, and umrah pilgrims. of closure of walk-in services Khan said. for health and safety have been The Punjab government has because of the pandemic. Minister for Industries and devised for some sectors that are Khan has sought debt relief the country, including closure of other businesses are hurt by meanwhile extended the lock- There are others, which have Production Hammad Azhar said being reopened. from international lenders to schools and educational institu- lockdown. down across the province for two closed public dealing, but have that the industries that are be- “It was because of our timely combat the pandemic. tions, cancelling the 23rd March Khan said the Ehsaas Pro- months due to the rapid increase not issued notifi cations on their ing opened, besides construc- decisions and your co-operation Speaking to media representa- Parade and the Pakistan Super gramme, the biggest in the his- in coronavirus cases. websites. tion, include the export sector, that we controlled the spread of tives after the meeting of the Na- League (PSL) and all other offi cial tory of the country, is playing a As many as 12 new cases of Foreign Offi ce spokesperson chemical manufacturing plants, the virus,” Prime Minister Khan tional Co-ordination Committee and private functions where peo- key role in provision of cash relief coronavirus were recorded in Aisha Farooqi, while confi rm- e-commerce, software develop- said. (NCC) in Islamabad yesterday, ple could congregate. to daily wagers and poor people. Rawalpindi, raising the total ing that the mode of provision of ment and planning, paper and More than 18mn jobs in Paki- the prime minister said that the He said that while there are He added that the programme number to 128. consular services had changed, packaging units, industries with stan have been estimated to be hard decision was taken to im- enough ventilators, protective is without any political infl uence On the other hand, 16 con- said: “There are lockdowns in al- labour on site, cement and fer- at risk amid the government’s pose lockdown in the country, clothing and other gear to meet and will help any eligible citizen fi rmed patients were discharged most every country, (including) tiliser plants, mines and miner- campaign to slow the spread of which was very well implement- the demand, should the number of Pakistan. from hospitals after they recov- the US, the UK, France, and Italy. als, plant nurseries, agricultural the coronavirus, which includes ed due to the co-operation of the of the coronavirus cases spike, The prime minister said that ered from the disease. “Most of our missions are in machinery plants, glass manu- a curfew enforced by the military people. the existing equipment will be there is consensus between the Four of the new confi rmed cas- emergency mode and providing facturing plants, veterinary serv- in some areas. Consequently, encouraging insuffi cient. Center and the provinces regard- es were reported from Banni and only online services and through ices, and bookshops. According to a UN estimate, results are being received, with The prime minister stressed ing the opening the construction two from Pirwadhai, the district social media.” He said that the construction around 40% of Pakistan’s popu- spread of the coronavirus slow- that Pakistan is “fi ghting on two sector to provide employment to administration said. There is, however, at least one sector will be opened in phases. lation already lives below the ing down to 30% of the projected fronts”: one is containing the people. The rapid increase in the Pakistani consulate – the one in Those that will be opened in poverty line. target. spread of the coronavirus, and He said an ordinance will be number of Covid-19 cases in the Barcelona – that remains open fi rst phase include brick kilns, The World Bank has warned Khan said that the govern- the second is to overcome unem- laid out soon to provide incen- province was termed “alarming to serve the 70,000-strong Pa- stone crushing plants, and ce- that Pakistan is expected to fall ment took a number of steps to ployment. tives to the construction sector and dangerous for health of the kistani community in Spain’s ment factories. into recession in fi scal 2020/21. stop the spread coronavirus in He said that daily wagers and to generate job opportunities. citizens”. Catalonia region. It was probably one of the Repatriation of Pakistanis abroad starts locations where this service Life under lockdown was needed the most, as a large The next phase of repatriating overseas Pakistanis from abroad has number of Pakistanis living started, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said while speaking there are poorly-educated and at the meeting of Special Committee of the Parliament on coronavirus do not understand English. in Islamabad. “Practicing the online mantra He said that the stranded Pakistanis will be brought back on nine here in Spain is inhumane. Most special flights. Pakistanis settled here are not The minister said 39,748 Pakistanis are currently waiting for their educated beyond the primary repatriation to their homeland. level, have lost their informal He said that so for 1,640 Pakistanis have been repatriated through jobs and livelihood for the past 12 special flights, and now eff orts will be made to bring back more month and a half, and need pass- Pakistanis in the next flight operation that started yesterfay. ports to process their residence Meanwhile, more than 100 Pakistani nationals have reached Taftan and applications by post to the from Iran. Spanish offi ces with deadlines, They were all quarantined after being screened as precautionary hungry families at homes, and measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus. parents who don’t have money to buy medicines for the chil- Two school headmasters suspended dren. “Can I lock the doors of the Peshawar district education off icer Irfan Ali has suspended two consulate to these Pakistanis and headmasters for assembling the students at the schools to award them affi x an emergency number of a their annual examination results. staff member at the door?” Con- The suspended persons are the headmasters of government primary sul-General Imran Ali asked. school No 3 (Hazar Khawani) and government primary school (Garhi When asked about the risk of Qamar Din), according to a notification. keeping the consulate open, he The education off icer has also ordered an inquiry into the matter. said: “Yes, I am at risk, my staff Both the headmasters had asked the students to visit the school and is at risk, but we take the risk to get their results. help the Pakistani community in this city. Kashmir plans more isolation hospitals “Are hospitals not open in Pakistan? Are police offi cers in A meeting presided over by Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) Prime Pakistan not interacting with Minister Raja Farooq Haider in Muzaff arabad yesterday has approved the people? The consulate in this establishment of separate 50-bed isolation hospitals in all 10 districts of city has the role of a mother to its the state. people. The state-of-the-art prefabricated Isolation hospital in each district A bird of prey is seen while a man feeds stray cats and crows in front of closed shops in Karachi. “We can’t hide behind this would be constructed at a cost of Rs1.250bn. false online mantra.” Apex court judges express anger over ‘poor planning’

Internews During the hearing, the Su- some having criminal records. Justice Qazi Mohamed Amin observed the chief justice. Advocate-General for Sindh The nation should not be di- Islamabad preme Court came close to is- “We are not even sure whether observed that the court was not At this, the attorney-general Salman Talibuddin informed the vided at this juncture, Amin ob- suing a directive against Special Dr Mirza is clean or not.” concerned about the govern- said that the prime minister is court that there was no complete served, explaining that parlia- Assistant to the Prime Minister At this, the attorney-general ance matters, but expressing le- not aloof; rather, he is taking all shutdown in 11 union councils ment refl ected the strength and he Supreme Court of Paki- on Health Dr Zafar Mirza, but said that the Federal Investiga- gitimate concern as there is a big interest and is the most honest (UCs) of Karachi, adding that capacity of the nation. stan has assailed the fed- avoided dictating it when Attor- tion Agency (FIA) had initiated question mark on the implemen- man, adding that discussions and lockdown had been imposed to “We are not criticising any po- Teral government and the ney-General Khalid Jawed Khan an inquiry against Mirza for ex- tation of government’s policies decisions always started with a curb the spread of coronavirus. litical parties; rather, we should Sindh province government for pleaded that such extreme order porting face masks at the request on social distancing and other meeting. However, Chief Justice Ahmed all rise to the occasion,” he said. not demonstrating a clear vision, at this juncture would prove to be of the Chinese government when things. In such a challenging time, was not happy with this asser- The apex court is not happy and warned of a looming chaos the death knell. they needed it the most at that Chief Justice Ahmed deplored Khan said, the government is do- tion, saying that soon a time over the steps being taken by the and anarchy if extreme steps like “Such comments always have time. that the government is doing ing all its best, adding that there would come when a mob would Sindh government as well as the a lockdown were taken without a a negative impact,” the attorney- “This was done with the direc- “nothing” except for holding is no dearth of laws, but what “we rise, and no one, be it Aiwan-e- lack of complete information proper back-up plan to cater to general emphasised, adding that tive of the government since the meetings and issuing statements lack is implementation”. Sadr (the presidency), Sunset about the distribution of Rs8bn people’s needs. Mirza had a vast experience to his Chinese have always assisted us,” and closing down all premises Justice Umar Ata Bandial em- Boulevard, Dr Ziauddin Road, among the people in the prov- “The situation of this mag- credit and no one had visualised he said. without realising the impact. phasised that this is the time to etc, will be safe. ince, and sought a comprehen- nitude demands consensus and the a grave situation the nation Chief Justice Ahmed was also show leadership in the wake of When the chief justice ques- sive report this regard. uniformity, but the provincial was experiencing. upset over the fact that despite ‘The situation of this a national calamity, explaining tioned the Sindh government’s “People are crying in Sukkur, governments are going in a dif- “Please do not disembark earlier directives, neither any magnitude demands that what the apex court is point- ability to deal with the situation, Karachi, and Hyderabad, but the ferent direction, while the cen- him [Dr Mirza] midway from legislation was made to stream- consensus and uniformity’ – ing out is that it could not be a si- the advocate-general wondered provincial government has no tral government on the other,” the fl ight, rather leave it to the line preventions in the wake of Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed lent spectator when fundamental whether the apex court is direct- programme how to handle and observed Chief Justice of Paki- government to deal with,” Khan coronavirus, nor had parliament rights are involved, as this is an ing “us to remove lockdown from ensure supplies. What happened stan Gulzar Ahmed while hearing pleaded. ever met to take up this serious “How many people are dying issue of life and liberty. 11 UCs, or the top court is paint- in the Lines Area yesterday?” a suo motu case about measures The chief justice was also bit- issue when many countries had of Covid-19 than other diseases,” “The government is the face ing a picture of absolute anarchy”. Chief Justice Ahmed asked. taken by the federal and provin- ter about the prime minister hav- done this. he asked, observing that people and there is a need for having “With all sincerity, we are only “That is why the prime minis- cial governments to combat the ing a large number of aides, by Attorney-General Khan in- are starving, but a huge amount some consensus since we have cautioning you because this is ter is insisting against a complete coronavirus pandemic. stating that there was an entire formed the court that he had of money was being spent on ad- to stand by the people, especially written on the wall,” Justice Qazi shutdown, since there should be Expressing extreme concern army of special assistants and met Prime Minister Imran Khan visers and assistants. doctors, who are putting their Amin retorted. some balance,” Attorney-Gener- over eff orts to reduce the eff ects advisers who had taken over the and a proper ordinance was in Besides, he regretted, there is lives at risk while combating the “We are heading towards a ca- al Khan said. of the economic slowdown, the entire cabinet, making the body the making to take care of eve- a lot of overlapping as the min- virus outbreak,” he observed. tastrophe as the coronavirus is Obviously, as a matter of pol- apex court set aside the Punjab completely redundant. rything, adding that parliament isters, special assistants, and ad- “All the political parties also threatening our social and icy, the session of parliament government’s decision to impose “What is the justifi cation of was an independent institution visers are doing the same thing. should come together since it is economic fabric,” he said, regret- was not being called, but all laws a ban on the inter-provincial keeping such a large cabinet?” like the apex court, and though “There are so many people a national calamity. We need to ting that political parties were are in place, he said, adding that movement on the grounds that Ahmed wondered, adding that the court’s concern could be con- around, and with all due respect make the economy moving since blaming each other at a time the government had recently it is against the constitutional many members of the cabinet veyed, no directive could be is- to the prime minister, I don’t we cannot allow people to die of when “we need a bipartisan ap- launched one of the largest aid guarantees of free movement. did not have a “clean” past, with sued to it. know, whether he is aloof of this,” hunger,” he said. proach”. programmes in the country. Gulf Times Wednesday, April 15, 2020 17 PHILIPPINES

Roque returns as Palace Duterte sees ‘no end in spokesman

By Ma. RL Tolentino Manila Times sight’ yet to lockdown DPA awyer Harry Roque will re- Manila turn as Palace spokesman, LMalacanang confi rmed, saying the health crisis needed a hilippine President Rod- “new tack on messaging.” rigo Duterte said he was Salvador Panelo, chief presi- Pnot inclined to totally lift a dential legal counsel, confi rmed lockdown on the country’s most that President Rodrigo Duterte populous island until a vaccine, off ered the position of Palace antibody treatment or medicine spokesman to Roque and he ac- for the novel coronavirus be- cepted it. comes available. “The Offi ce of the President Duterte said Filipinos might welcomes Secretary Roque back need to endure two to three to the Cabinet and wishes him all waves of the epidemic before the best as he assumes the role of the government would lift the the chief executive’s spokesman, lockdown, which has entered its a post he has already held in the fi fth week. past,” Panelo, who also doubled “There’s no end in sight,” he as Palace spokesman, said in a said in a late-night televised statement. address that went on until the In a statement, Assistant Sec- early hours of yesterday. retary Rachel Queenie Rodulfo “When will this end, we of the Presidential Communi- have no clue yet. And our cations Operations Offi ce also numbers are increasing...At confi rmed that Roque accepted this time, we need to treat the the president’s off er to rejoin the sick, we need to feed our peo- administration. ple,” he added. “The present crisis calls for a Yesterday, the Department new tack on messaging,” Panelo of Health reported 291 new said when asked why Roque was confirmed cases of the coro- returning as Malacanang spokes- navirus in the Philippines, man. bringing the total number of Panelo said he would continue infections to 5,223. to perform his duties as chief There were 20 additional fa- presidential legal counsel and will talities, pushing the death toll provide legal advice to the presi- to 335, while 295 patients have dent “on matters requiring the recovered. The Philippines latter’s actions, and issue state- now has the highest number ments relative thereto.” of cases of Covid-19, the res- “The Offi ce of the Chief Presi- piratory disease caused by dential Legal Counsel will be the novel coronavirus, among working together with the Offi ce South-East Asian countries. of the Presidential Spokesperson, It is followed by Malaysia, Members of the public, detained for roaming the streets without relevant passes amid the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, squat at a distance from one another as they are as well as with all the depart- with 4,987 cases. processed outside a police station at Quezon City in Manila, yesterday. ments, in pursuing the national However, the death toll in policy of the government, spe- the Philippines is lower than Vergeire said. The baby had is located, is on lockdown until total shutdown in one of the ing the shutdown of Parola, everywhere. Why, is there a cially on Covid-19 (coronavirus Indonesia’s 459, according to a trouble breathing when he was April 30 due to the outbreak. villages in the biggest slum a village of about 60,000 fiesta?” disease 2019), and thereafter,” tracker by the Center for Stra- brought to hospital and was Luzon is home to some 57mn district, after people were residents. “About two dozen During the total shutdown he added. Duterte announced tegic and International Stud- found to have pneumonia, she people, more than half of the found to have held a boxing people in your village are sus- from yesterday evening, all Roque’s appointment as spokes- ies. The youngest victim of the said. country’s entire population, match, a cockfight and bingo pected of being infected and quarantine passes of residents man in 2017. disease in the Philippines was “He died because of late making it the fourth-most game over the weekend despite the number is increasing be- are suspended and only health He left the post in 2018 to fi le a a 29-day-old baby boy from onset sepsis due to severe res- densely populated island in the community quarantine. cause you continue to hang out workers, police officers and certifi cate for candidacy for sena- the province of Batangas, just piratory infection,” Vergeire the world. “No one is allowed out- in the streets,” he added. “You other frontline workers are tor in the 2019 elections but he south of Manila, Health Un- said. The main island of Lu- In Manila City, the local side,” Manila City Mayor Isko hold basketball games, cock- allowed to leave their homes, later withdrew his bid. dersecretary Maria Rosario zon, where the capital Manila government ordered a 24-hour Moreno said, in announc- fights, boxing and bingo games Moreno said.

Govt ‘ready to provide Presidential yacht begins Taguig City govt doubles assistance until May’ The government is ready to fund its Social Amelioration Pro- gramme in case the enhanced receiving coronavirus patients salaries of health workers community quarantine (ECQ) is extended until next month, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd said, Manila Times By Jan Arcilla City Human Resource Man- healthcare programmes even Manila Manila Manila Times agement Offi ce head Jeanette before this. This is how they Times reported. Dominguez, Clemente said under the new went on to increase the month- however, doubted if the cash aid scheme, which took eff ect on ly pay. The increase will remain would include the middle class. he presidential yacht Ang he Taguig City govern- April 1, BHWs who previously in eff ect even beyond the en- “We have actually planned until Pangulo has started ac- ment has doubled the received P3,000 will now re- hanced community quaran- the end of May for financing. I am Tcepting coronavirus dis- Tmonthly salaries of its ceive P7,900 while those who tine,” Clemente said. not saying that we will extend it ease 2019 (Covid-19) patients, barangay (village) health work- receive P4,000 will now get Taguig City has the largest (ECQ) beyond April 30, but our following the directive of Presi- ers (BHWs) by promoting them P8,500. Those receiving P5,000 number of health workers in plan has been really to fund our dent Rodrigo Duterte to have the from volunteers to job-order will now get P9,700 per month. Metro Manila — 854. requirements to beat this Covid ship transformed into a quaran- personnel, Mayor Lino Edgardo The variation in monthly pay Among others, they work in (coronavirus disease 2019) for tine facility. Cayetano said. is according to the length of the 31 health centres and three April and May,” he told CNN All the ship’s offi cers and crew “The salary increase is one service: one day to three years, 24/7 “Super Health Centres” Philippines. P205bn has been participated in transforming the way we are expressing thanks three to six years and above six of the city, which remain open budgeted for the Social Ameliora- yacht into a fl oating quarantine to our frontliners who, since years, respectively. despite the lockdown. tion Programme created under facility intended for Covid-19 Beds and compartments are put inside the BRP Ang Pangulo Day 1, have tirelessly worked to Aside from the salary in- BHWs are also the fi rst point the Bayanihan to Heal As One patients, according to LCdr. presidential yacht which was converted into a quarantine facility ensure every Taguigeno is pro- crease, all BHWs will now be of contact for persons seek- Act (Republic Act 11469). Under Maria Christina Roxas, the Phil- for Covid-19 patients. vided the care they deserve. entitled to an annual P15,000- ing medical assistance through the programme, the government ippine Navy spokesman. Without them, our goal of performance incentive. the city’s Telemedicine pro- will deliver between P5,000 and Roxas said the ship’s three between the patients is being billeting area and other com- a healthy city is impossible,” “Taguig’s leaders noted how gramme, which seeks con- P8,000 for the months of April and VIP cabins could accommodate observed. All the yacht’s crew partments from the temporary Cayetano said in a statement. our BHWs worked as frontlin- sultations via the Internet or May to about 18mn low-income 28 patients and fi ve medical will remain aboard the ship and medical facility and patient The BHWs would now re- ers in the Covid-19 (coronavi- through text that lessens mo- households that have lost their personnel. Temporary divi- have been provided with per- rooms were already sealed off ,” ceive regular salaries and ad- rus disease 2019) response and bility and physical contact dur- sources of income because of the sions have been put up and sonal protective equipment. Roxas said. Ang Pangulo is ditional benefi ts instead of al- how they’ve dedicated their ing the enhanced community coronavirus lockdown. a three-metre safe distance “All points from the crew’s docked in Davao. lowances, he added. lives as implementers of our quarantine. Govt ramps up virus testing to fi nd infections

Reuters nearly 40% of its known fatali- President Rodrigo Duterte on the fi rst domestic transmission Manila ties, the government believes Monday approved the procure- on March 7, may have prevented its swift move to close borders ment of an additional 900,000 between 1.9 and 8.3mn corona- and put half its population un- kits, on top of 100,000 now in virus infections. he Philippines introduced der home quarantine may have use. The number of people test- The government has stressed a more aggressive test- averted a far greater toll and a ed stood at 33,814 as of April 12, that it is not mass testing, but Ting programme for the healthcare disaster. a tenfold increase from March using a targeted, risk-based ap- coronavirus yesterday to locate The former military chief in 29, although still far short of the proach, starting with the most what it said could be as many as charge of the national corona- 110,000 in Vietnam, which has vulnerable and aiming for 8,000 15,000 unknown infections, de- virus task force said yesterday 265 coronavirus cases and no re- tests daily. spite having implemented some modelling suggested 75% of in- ported deaths. It wants to test more in areas of Asia’s strictest and earliest fections — or 15,000 people — Among its other neighbours, with known outbreaks, or people lockdown measures. had yet to be detected. Indonesia is in a more precarious showing symptoms, then isolate Authorities have targeted “Our strategy is Metro Ma- situation, according to health them at new treatment centres several phases of ramped-up nila fi rst because this is the epi- experts, who warn of more than being prepared in stadiums and testing, starting yesterday with centre,” Carlito Galvez said on 1.6mn infections in a best-case conference centres until their 8,000 people working at or ad- radio.”When we test Manila, we scenario, and intensive care recovery. mitted to Manila hospitals that can win this battle against Cov- units being overwhelmed, even “This is where the quarantine were treating patients of id.” if stronger containment meas- facilities will come in handy, so Covid-19, a disease that so far The government has been ures are introduced. we can unclog the already over- infected 5,223 people locally and criticised for being too slow with Citing expert projections, heating health system,” said task killed 335. testing but it has accelerated Philippine Cabinet Secretary force spokesman Restituto Pa- Although the Philippines has since the start of April due to Karlo Nograles said yesterday dilla. “We can maximise avail- Southeast Asia’s highest number increases in test kits and labora- the local lockdown, which start- able test kits and fl atten the A Manila resident gets tested for the coronavirus disease at the Del Pan evacuation centre, which was of coronavirus infections and tory capacity. ed fi ve days after confi rmation of curve.” transformed into a quarantine facility by the city government. Gulf Times 18 Wednesday, April 15, 2020 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES The great oil output cut deal may not stem price rout

Opec producers and their allies agreed on Sunday to cut oil production by 9.7mn bpd. But some analysts think the deal would not be enough to stem the damage from the combination of plunging demand amid the coronavirus pandemic and a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia. In all fairness, the Opec+ deal is historically grand in its scope, given the size of the cuts and their duration. The 20 producers taking part will initially cut output by 9.7mn bpd, with all but Mexico reducing production by 23% for two months — May and June. What can coronavirus teach Will the historic Opec+ cuts work? Oil timespreads are showing the opposite of what was expected after the historic deal. Brent crude’s six-month contango deepened on Monday following the agreement that will curb production by us about education? nearly 10%. A market structure where the spot price of a commodity is lower than later-dated contracts, a contango that we could have. There is nothing becomes, learning is an experiential learning platform with story-driven typically indicates over-supply. novel about coronavirus; Covid-19 is process and fundamentally rooted in resources, delivered intensive training Citigroup said the reductions would do little to stem the anything but an anomaly, but rather human interaction. And, as the private for new users in preparation for remote part of a recent history of health crises sector has demonstrated, there is learning as the crisis begins to take price rout, while Goldman Sachs Group described the deal as including Ebola, Sars, and now Lassa capacity to fi nd a compromise between eff ect across Latin America. “historic yet insuffi cient.” Fever. Despite this, alongside a growing independent learning and personalised Whilst there is, of course, a huge The extraordinary slump in oil demand, if sustained, migrant population and increasing support. For us here at WISE, there are sense of uncertainty at the moment, would savage national budgets from Venezuela to Iran, number of climate-aff ected countries, examples that have proved how vital one positive outcome is that this our education systems have failed to partnerships are in helping one another time affords us an opportunity to threaten the heartland of America’s shale revolution and evolve in order to meet the needs of a adapt to these strange, uncertain times. reset. Education has often been upend politics around the world. modern student body. For the founders involved in our presumed to be a sector that is defined For central bankers, Of course, remote learning has been Accelerator programme especially, by academic institutions and their the prospect of a panacea of sorts for a long time, and there has been a collective eff ort to inflexible processes. However, the last The extraordinary Bill Gates himself has spoken about enact change quickly and learn from few weeks have started to disprove slump in oil destabilising prices are the potential for online platforms one another on how to support their these assumptions. Stakeholders an added complication Victoria Basma, Policy Development to empower students, creating education systems. Last week, for from across the spectrum have proved demand, if as they try to model the Off icer at Qatar Foundation’s WISE, opportunities for equality and social example, Aldo de Pape, founder of themselves to be highly proactive, impact of the pandemic on why Covid-19 may be a wake-up development in places that need it TeachPitch, hosted the fi rst in a series collaborative, and open to radical call for the world’s education systems most. But while there have been notable of webinars focused on how edtech change. sustained, could on the economy. successes in delivering this promise, companies can adjust to meet the new Whether it is simply by sharing These are, for sure, MOOCs (massive open online courses) realities of the coronavirus pandemic. advice on how to manage learning upend politics bad times for the oil and other forms of online education In Lebanon, Kamkalima, an Arabic remotely, or working together to market. s the coronavirus outbreak have, for the most part, fallen fl at. language learning platform, is working understand how systems can be around the world continues, it has been Learning remotely relies on a number with local schools to provide access changed to meet an evolved set of needs, Global oil demand painfully obvious as to how of factors for success, from high levels to their resources for free until the the collective eff ort seen within this will decline this year Aunprepared our current of student-motivation to personalised, beginning of the new school year in sector has been a small signal of what for the fi rst time since the 2009 fi nancial crisis as the systems are for a crisis of this nature, diff erentiated content, all of which are September. In Argentina, the team we can continue to achieve in the wake coronavirus slams the global economy, according to the particularly within the education sector. diffi cult to achieve without teachers and responsible for Wumbox, an adaptive of this crisis. As schools across the world grapple specialists dedicating their time. International Energy Agency. with ways to support their students The development of remote learning In a rare move, the agency last month included a more following recent closures, chaos has options has mostly been the domain of Qatar Foundation – Unlocking Human Potential pessimistic scenario in which the demand loss would be ensued, and the majority of students civil society or the private sector, with a many times more severe. have been left without a viable way to signifi cant lack of investment from other Qatar Foundation for Education, to community members as young learn remotely. Faced with a clear need education sector actors and government Science and Community Development as six months through to doctoral For only the fourth time in almost 40 years, oil to reassess our education systems, how entities. In lieu of their contribution to (QF) is a non-profit organisation level, enabling graduates to thrive in a consumption may not grow at all in 2020, according to a do we move forward and redesign them this space, the private sector, in particular, that supports Qatar on its journey global environment and contribute to growing minority of traders, investors and analysts. in a way that ensures resilience? has gained enormous traction. Online to becoming a diversified and the nation’s development. For the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Globally, 26 countries to date have tutoring, for instance, has seen an sustainable economy. QF strives to QF is also creating a multidisciplinary shut schools nationwide, aff ecting a annual revenue of $38.5bn in China, and serve the people of Qatar and beyond innovation hub in Qatar, where Countries, it’s a nightmare scenario. A price war in the face total of 37.6mn students, a number predictions for this market in the US see it by providing specialised programmes homegrown researchers are of collapsing demand is not a recipe for oil stability. set to increase to a total of 500mn as reaching $7.37bn by 2023. across its innovation-focused working to address local and global Major oil producing countries will lose money regardless this crisis continues. While students With teams made up of tutors from ecosystem of education, research challenges. By promoting a culture of of the market share they can claw back. are, of course, at the centre of this some of the world’s top universities and and development, and community lifelong learning and fostering social unprecedented disruption, schools resources that are often far more dynamic development. engagement through programmes Oil dependent states – such as Iraq, Iran, Libya and and universities are also headed for than those off ered in mainstream schools, QF was founded in 1995 by His that embody Qatari culture, QF is Venezuela – that have suff ered from years of confl ict, huge fi nancial losses this year, with but with sessions costing anywhere Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa committed to empowering the local uprisings or sanctions will pay the heaviest price. Australia’s education sector alone between $40-300 per hour, students from al-Thani, the Father Amir, and Her community and contributing to a Big importing nations such as China and India could get facing a downturn of £4.1bn, partly lower income backgrounds are simply left Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, better world for all. due to the travel bans imposed on their out of the equation. There are also serious who shared the vision to provide For a complete list of QF’s initiatives and some relief from falling energy bills. But any reduction in international students. questions around how far these platforms Qatar with quality education. Today, projects, please visit: www.qf.org.qa prices will likely be outweighed by the dislocation to the It is diffi cult to determine how we can meet the needs of students with QF’s world-class education system For any media inquiries, please economy caused by the coronavirus-led recession in global should have prepared for an event special needs or learning diffi culties. offers lifelong learning opportunities contact: [email protected] economy. like this, but the truth of the matter is No matter how innovative technology Longer term, cheap oil can cut investments to develop new oil and gas fi elds, leading to a future price shock. For sure, these are quite clearly extraordinary times, with an unprecedented demand collapse. And the war over market share could resume once the lockdowns ease and people want oil again. There are, of course, gainers and losers when it comes to consistently lower oil prices. But the world is in need of a stable oil market with price equilibrium.

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© 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Gulf Times Wednesday, April 15, 2020 19 COMMENT Covid-19 thrives on inequality

By Chema Vera Meanwhile, workers in essential vulnerable populations if it is spent Nairobi roles – such as carers, nurses, and on the wrong things or is captured by supermarket cashiers – can’t isolate unaccountable corporate elites. That themselves from the deadly virus and is the core lesson of the 2008-09 The virus will starve us before have some of the lowest-paid and fi nancial crisis. it makes us sick.” That text most insecure jobs. Most of them are Oxfam has proposed a Global Public message, which a colleague women, too. Health Plan and Emergency Response “of mine in Nairobi received Privileged citizens can get the best package that calls for an immediate from Micah, a taxi-driver friend, healthcare, rely on their savings, and doubling of public-health spending in encapsulates the existential threat work at home (or escape to a holiday 85 poor countries in order to save lives. that the Covid-19 pandemic poses to home) during the pandemic. But for In addition, governments need fi nancial millions of people. most of humanity, such relative safety assistance to increase social protection, Micah hasn’t had a fare in weeks is well out of reach. which four billion people worldwide and is now borrowing money to buy As with inequality within countries, currently lack, and to provide people like food for his children. His business, like inequality between rich and poor Micah with cash grants. many others, has collapsed because countries will radically shape people’s Economies everywhere need small of Kenya’s 19:00-05:00 curfew, the experiences of this pandemic. While businesses such as Micah’s to survive disappearance of tourism, and the rich-country governments unveil and help drive the eventual recovery. closure of airports, bars, restaurants, huge fi nancial packages to save their Bailouts for the richest companies, on and shops. economies, developing countries are the other hand, should be conditional The International Monetary Fund drowning in debt, which has reached on these fi rms paying their fair share has already said that the pandemic’s an all-time high of 191% of their of taxes, paying workers a living wage, economic impact is “way worse” than combined GDP. Such inequality helps and cutting their greenhouse-gas that of the 2008-09 global fi nancial to explain why Tanzania has one doctor emissions. crisis. In fact, new research by Oxfam, for every 71,000 inhabitants, and Mali Finally, as we begin to lay the King’s College London, and the has three ventilators per million. In foundations of the new in the ashes Australian National University shows refugee camps where Oxfam works, of the old, we should ask how we got that the current crisis could push as hundreds of people share a single water to this point. Was it ever a good idea many as a half-billion people into tap. for governments to make health care poverty. And researchers at Imperial We need global action now. Only a privilege of affl uence rather than a College London previously warned a mighty response by rich, powerful fundamental right, or to ignore the that Covid-19 could kill 40mn people countries will stop the pandemic and necessity of a living wage or social unless governments took urgent prevent a global economic collapse. protection for all? And was it ever action. The G20 must live up to its mandate to smart to let two thousand billionaires This virus aff ects us all, including lead the world through crises. own more wealth than 4.6bn people princes and fi lm stars. But never has To that end, Oxfam’s Economic combined? a crisis so profoundly exposed the Rescue Plan For All urges the A young man holds a sign asking for help after the Ministry of Health extended the detention period of people in quarantine Today, our planet is in crisis, and extreme inequalities that divide our world’s richest economies to to 28 days at a government-designated quarantine facility in Nairobi. the health and economic well-being world. increase massively their support for of its people are in deep peril. We In Exodus-like scenes, millions developing countries, echoing the virus is anywhere, it is a threat shilling, peso, and rupee to fi ght the benefit. The G20 must also champion cannot now carry on with the unequal, of workers have been sent home United Nations call for the creation everywhere. pandemic. increases in aid and emergency taxes, extractive, sexist, and rigged economic without pay. Consider the female of a $2.5tn global emergency- The fi rst priority is to unlock In addition, the G20 must pursue for example on extraordinary profits model that broke our world in the fi rst garment workers in Bangladesh who assistance package. In short, rich- the trillions of dollars that poorer an emergency economic stimulus and speculative financial products. place. Instead, we must build a more make many of the clothes that we country governments must take countries need. Here, the G20 must of at least $1tn in Special Drawing If now is not the time for such equal, sustainable, caring, and human- wear. Some 98% of buyers, often rich urgent steps to internationalise the agree to cancel permanently all Rights, the IMF’s global reserve measures, when is? oriented economy, starting now. – multinational companies, refuse to measures that many of them are developing-country external debt due currency. This will boost the reserves The next priority is to direct the Project Syndicate contribute to the cost of paying their pursuing at home. This is not only in 2020. It makes no sense for rich of the world’s poorest countries necessary resources toward saving lost wages. What will these women the right thing to do, but is also in countries to be collecting money now while not costing rich countries lives and rescuing people from poverty. zChema Vera is Interim Executive do now? their self-interest. As long as the from poor countries that need every anything – in fact, they, too, will Increased funding will not help Director of Oxfam International.

At the heart of Covid-19: A red Three-day forecast TODAY Maximum Temperature : 250c Minimum Temperature : 200c

THURSDAY fl ag for cardiovascular diseases Maximum Temperature : 260c Minimum Temperature : 200c

(COPD), and 6% for hypertension as to why CVD patients are more The American Heart Association, FRIDAY (HTN). susceptible to the most pernicious European Society for Cardiology and Maximum Temperature : 280c In some respects, the above results effects of Covid-19 than others. Is other international cardiovascular Minimum Temperature : 220c are not particularly shocking. Previous there a link, for example, between organisations recently urged against Fisherman's forecast studies show that Severe Acute these findings and medications reducing the use of ACE inhibitors Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) and prescribed for CVD? at this time. Put simply, there are WARNING Inshore : Strong wind expected Middle East Respiratory Syndrome In an attempt to answer this and no solid indications that Covid-19 amd thundery rain at (Mers) – which are, like Covid-19, related questions, scientists are basing will preferentially infect individuals some places coronaviruses – also increase their analysis on the key-lock system taking these medications. Scientists Offshore : Expected thunder rain associated with strong morbidity among CVD suff erers. by which viruses penetrate cells. and physicians also warn the public wind and high sea A more troubling fi nding is that This system depends on a key protein against making the personal decision WEATHER individuals with cardiovascular referred to as angiotensin-converting- to abruptly stop prescribed drugs. Inshore : Cloudy with asctd rain maybe thundery at diseases are particularly susceptible enzyme type 2 (ACE2) which is Individuals suff ering from some places and slight to the most severe form of Covid-19, normally present on the surface of cardiovascular diseases should dust to blowing dust at which often leads to death. the many cell types that make up our nevertheless be more cautious and times abide strictly by the Center for Disease WIND By Georges Nemer The association between CVD and body, including the pulmonary and Inshore : Northeasterly-South- higher rates of fatalities in pulmonary cardiovascular system. This protein Control and Prevention (CDC) and easterly 10-20/30 KT infections is directly related to the is the path by which the viral particle World Health Organisation (WHO) Offshore : Northwesterly-North- he heart is the fi rst organ to importance of the heart and related “spike” unlocks human cells to pave recommendations regarding Covid-19. easterly 10-20/34 KT sense and give life and, as organs of the cardiovascular system to the way for the entry of the virus. Remember that those who care for you Visibility : 4-8/3 KM such, is the ultimate target of oxygen supplies. Blood is oxygenated Drugs commonly used for treating and your heart are professionals with Offshore : 3-6/10 FT Tany internal or external chal- in the lungs, which as we know is patients with CVD – especially those experience and in-depth knowledge: lenge to the human body. Conversely, the primary target for Covid-19. suff ering from high blood pressure they are giving their hearts to save Accordingly, a defective supply of – are ACE-inhibitors, which are ours. the cardiovascular system is at the Around the region heart of all events that our brain wit- oxygenated blood will directly aff ect antagonists of ACE, the sister enzyme Weather Weather Georges Nemer is Professor of nesses and records. Like the pandem- blood vessels performance as well of ACE2. However, drugs which block z today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Genomics and Precision Medicine, ics that came before, it is common as the heart’s ability to cope with the activity of ACE lead to increased Sunny 31/14 P Cloudy 32/18 and Co-ordinator of the Genetics and Baghdad sense and resilience rather than increasing demands on the body. expression of ACE2, which has P Cloudy 29/19 M Sunny 30/20 Translational Biomedicine Division Kuwait City stubbornness that will ultimately de- In addition to the imposition of a numerous benefi cial eff ects including Rain 23/21 P Cloudy 26/21 at the College of Health and Life Manama termine our recovery from Covid-19. “hypoxic condition” on a defective lower blood pressure but also M Cloudy 32/25 Cloudy 31/24 Sciences (CHLS) at Hamad Bin Khalifa Muscat None more so than when it comes to cardiovascular system, patients who protection against acute lung injury M Sunny 17/08 Sunny 20/11 these important, but ultimately frag- suff er from heart failure would be caused by viruses like Covid-19. University (HBKU). Tehran ile, bodily functions. unable to protect this organ from From the early days of the outbreak the infi ltration of viral particles China has accumulated evidence that cause myocarditis. This is an About Hamad Bin Khalifa University to suggest that Covid-19 causes infl ammation of the heart that, under increased mortality and morbidity normal conditions, requires intensive Innovating Today, Shaping Tomorrow among individuals with a history interventions. Finally, the increased of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, infl ammatory repertoire of circulated Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), pacity through an enriching academic and asthma. To demonstrate this, chemokines and other proteins like a member of Qatar Foundation for Ed- experience, innovative ecosystem, Chinese scientists calculated the case cardiac Troponin I, were seen as ucation, Science, and Community De- and unique partnerships. HBKU deliv- fatality rate (CFR) for each condition, responsible for the induced-cell death velopment (QF), was founded in 2010 ers multidisciplinary undergraduate and published their fi ndings in a of cardiac cells which also increased as a research-intensive university that and graduate programs through its recent edition of JAMA. They noted a case fatality rates. acts as a catalyst for transformative colleges, and provides opportunities 0.9% increase in individuals with no Despite compelling evidence change in Qatar and the region while for research and scholarship through comorbidities, 10% for cardiovascular that a compromised cardiovascular having a global impact. Located in its institutes and centres. For more diseases (CVD), 7.3% for diabetes system exacerbates the body’s efforts Education City, HBKU is committed information about HBKU, visit www. Around the world mellitus (DM), 6.3% for chronic to defend itself against viruses, to building and cultivating human ca- hbku.edu.qa Weather Weather obstructive pulmonary disease questions nevertheless remain today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Athens P Cloudy 19/09 Sunny 19/08 Beirut M Cloudy 22/18 P Cloudy 22/17 Bangkok P Cloudy 35/28 S T Storms 34/28 Berlin M Sunny 17/05 P Cloudy 18/07 Cairo P Cloudy 30/19 P Cloudy 29/16 Live issues Cape Town Cloudy 19/12 M Sunny 19/12 Colombo S T Storms 30/26 S T Storms 30/26 Dhaka M Sunny 36/25 S T Storms 33/25 Hong Kong P Cloudy 21/18 P Cloudy 22/19 Study says this test can help screen early for diabetes Istanbul Showers 12/06 Sunny 15/06 Jakarta T Storm 31/25 S T Storms 32/26 recently published study for chronic conditions such as hyper- ing increasingly more important for providers now have a reliable test to Karachi M Sunny 34/25 P Cloudy 33/26 indicates that grip strength tension, according to a press release. preventing complications caused by detect it early before such complica- London M Sunny 17/06 P Cloudy 21/08 may be an early indicator of Research has not found a reliable way blood vessel damage associated with tions set in,” she continued. Manila S T Storms 34/26 S T Storms 33/27 Type 2 diabetes. to assess how muscular weakness may diabetes,” lead investigator Elise C For women between ages 50 and 80, Moscow M Cloudy 08/01 Rain 08/01 A P Cloudy 37/23 P Cloudy 38/25 In the fi ndings, which were pub- be associated with Type 2 diabetes in Brown of the department of public and the cut point is 0.49. So if a 60-year- New Delhi lished recently in the American Journal adults who otherwise appear healthy. environmental wellness at Oakland old woman who weighed 198 pounds New York P Cloudy 12/04 P Cloudy 11/03 of Preventive Medicine, researchers However, muscle weakness is known University in Rochester, Michigan, had a combined grip strength from left Paris Sunny 19/08 P Cloudy 24/12 were able to pinpoint consistent grip to be linked to Type 2 diabetes in adults said in a statement. and right hands of about 95 pounds, Sao Paulo P Cloudy 27/17 M Cloudy 26/16 strength cut points in relation to pa- who otherwise appear healthy. “Our study identifi es the levels of 0.478 would be her normalised grip Seoul P Cloudy 19/04 M Sunny 23/09 tients’ weight, age group and gender. “As the type 2 diabetes patient handgrip strength/weakness that cor- strength. Since that number is less Singapore P Cloudy 33/27 P Cloudy 33/27 The large study was composed of a population continues to increase in relate with T2DM in otherwise healthy than 0.49, it indicates the woman is at Sydney M Sunny 24/16 M Cloudy 27/17 nationally representative sample of the United States, diagnosing this men and women, according to their risk for diabetes and further screening Tokyo Clear 21/07 Clear 17/10 participants. They were prescreened disease in its early stages is becom- body weights and ages. Healthcare is needed. Gulf Times 20 Wednesday, April 15, 2020 QATAR

Ashghal odour management ensures healthy environment

he Public Works Author- ity (Ashghal) has com- Tpleted the fi rst phase of the ‘Odour Management Pro- gramme’ for drainage assets to off er a healthy and safe environ- ment for the people in Qatar. The programme includes ad- vanced technology for detect- ing, monitoring and treating foul odours and it’s aimed at improving the quality of services through proactive plans in deal- ing with customers’ complaints in the hotspot locations. The ‘Odour Management Programme’ for drainage assets features Nasser al-Yami, assistant advanced technology for detecting, monitoring, treating foul odours. manager of Ashghal Drainage Operation and Maintenance De- partment, said that the project Engineer Nasser al-Yami Ashghal taking is implemented in line with one of the four pillars of the Qatar adopting a new work mecha- National Vision 2030. “The pro- nism to monitor and respond gramme ensures environmental to potential foul odours proac- development through provision tively. This is by using a system of environment friendly solu- of odour control to monitor the tions to the problems related to safety of networks and pump- urgent steps for foul odours. We believe in our ing stations, and take necessary commitment to provide long- measures. lasting solutions that would Considered to be the fi rst of contribute to the improvement its kind, the programme fea- of quality of life in Qatar,” he said. tures eco-friendly and cost sav- “This plan, launched in 2018, ing mechanisms and it does not is divided into three phases cov- An odour control plant installed by Ashghal at a location. need periodical maintenance. It rain readiness ering a period of fi ve to seven encompasses odour abatement years. During the fi rst phase, the nity at large,” he added. exist. The programme will also and monitoring in parallel with ith Qatar receiv- maintenance plan for the rain- future drainage networks. The number of customer complaints The rolled-out real-time support Qatar in its preparation streams of work. ing good showers on water drainage network during tunnel will “operate to drain got reduced by 34% in key dis- odour monitoring system is a to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup This approach by Ashghal has WMonday and more ex- August and September. surface water from sub-net- tricts of Doha such as Ain Kha- valuable component in Ashghal’s and in meeting the requirements been showcased at international pected today (Wednesday) and Ashghal cleans gullies in dif- works located in diff erent areas, led, Hazm Al Markhiya and Dahl Drainage Network Management of the Supreme Committee for forums dedicated for odour tomorrow (Thursday), the Pub- ferent areas ahead of the rainy spread over an estimated 170sq Al Hamam. The odour manage- Centre. This helps Ashghal suc- Delivery & Legacy. management and received com- lic Works Authority (Ashghal) is season and the cleaning activi- km area, and minimise rainwa- ment system is expected to give ceed in resolving customer com- Al-Yami explained that Ash- mendable applause from indus- on alert and active in ensuring ties continue until the end of the ter catchments, especially in long-lasting results in the af- plaints within the fi rst phase ghal has succeeded in improving try specialists in Europe and the smooth traffi c fl ow on roads by rainy season. tunnels, as it’s connected with fected areas and in the commu- in locations where foul odours and enhancing the services by UK. taking emergency steps. Ashghal also bring in tank- rainwater drainage networks in Ashghal has chalked out sev- ers and mobile pumps to clear 22 tunnels” (for vehicles). eral measures to ensure there is rainwater. Areas that are vulner- The tunnel project will also no rainwater accumulation on able to waterlogging are identi- decrease the surface water level roads across Qatar. fi ed and necessary equipment and reduce pumping costs in Rainwater catchment points and machinery are put in place construction projects across QU initiative promotes distance learning (hot spots) are identifi ed by for quick response and water the country. Besides, it will Ashghal ahead of the rainy sea- removal. Priorities are also de- help preserve the foundations son and interim solutions are fi ned in terms of securing high- of buildings by reducing water he National Center for to three-minute duration. The social responsibility into real- implemented. ways, all tunnels, internal roads, logging. Educational Develop- content, design and production life. “The centre will implement Ashghal implements solu- schools zones and health facili- In addition, there are many Tment at Qatar University quality should be in accordance a series of training workshops tions to help reduce rainwater ties across the country. integrated infrastructure has announced a new initiative, with language and scientifi c on how to produce educational accumulation in the most vul- Every rainy season, Ashghal projects currently under way Awen, in continuation of its Sa- standards, and sources clearly videos across its multiple plat- nerable areas in Doha in order to develops a mechanism to over- in various areas. “Ashghal has nid programme, to support par- attributed. forms,” he added. enhance operational readiness. come rainwater-related issues raised the rainy season emer- ents, students and teachers in The videos should be de- Those who wish to participate These include the installation and intensifi es training for its gency alert and mobilised the distance learning operations. signed by parents, students, in this initiative should send of overland pipes with pumps staff members in order to help necessary equipment to clear “The aim is to produce edu- teachers, or together. the link of the produced videos to clear water from streets and them improve the complaint water accumulation in diff erent cational videos on various top- “This initiative aims to spread and their personal data to the e- drain it into lagoons away from redress time and ensure fast re- areas in Qatar,” a tweet said on ics,” the centre’s director, Dr a culture of producing targeted mail: [email protected]. A residential areas. sponse in dealing with water ac- Monday. Abdullah Abu-Tineh, said. The resources for distance learn- specialised committee reviews The recently completed solu- cumulation. The emergency works are areas of the new campaign in- ing, and to encourage parents, videos in terms of content qual- tions pertain to Education City, Among the major projects implemented through liaising clude topics with scientifi c students and teachers to invest ity, design and production. Umm Ebairiya, Al Wakra, Al being undertaken is the Me- with work teams from Ashghal, content or how to teach it to their time in meaningful and The videos authorised by the Wukair, Arabian Gulf Street and saimeer Surface and Ground- various municipalities and other all levels of study; educational benefi cial educational work,” Dr committee will be published on University Street. water Drainage Tunnel Project. government bodies. topics for students with special Abu-Tineh said. the various centres of the Col- Annual preventive measures Upon completion, the project “Until now, has not aff ected needs or talented students and It is also intended to enhance lege of Education and Qatar are also executed to eliminate will ensure the proper discharge the traffi c fl ow and all main educational topics for preparing friendly relations between University. The creators of the the eff ect of rainwater accumu- of surface water and rainwater. roads and tunnels remain open for exams and overcoming their members of the same family, and best videos will be honoured in lation. These include the imple- The main tunnel at Mesaimeer to traffi c,” it was added in the concerns. to transfer concepts of leader- a special ceremony by the centre mentation of an operations and will connect the existing and tweet. Each video should have one ship, creativity, innovation and in the fall semester. Dr Abdullah Abu-Tineh

Traffic Dept holds Covid-19 awareness drive Turtle nests relocated for safety The Ministry of Municipality and Environment’s (MME) Department of Environmental Protection, Natural Reserves, and Wildlife announced yesterday that the project to protect the endangered hawksbill turtles is progressing well. Until now, a total of 12 nests have been relocated to the protected nesting site at Fuwairit Beach in addition to caring for the turtles by removing barnacles and treating bruises. All the necessary preventive and protective measures are being taken to guarantee the safety of the work Eggs laid by a hawksbill turtle team involved in the safely collected for movement to project, considering the the protected area. prevailing conditions. The General Directorate of Traff ic has held an awareness campaign on the Doha Corniche. Awareness messages were conveyed to motorists and other road users (children) using entertaining means, according to a tweet by the directorate. In addition, masks and gloves were distributed in line with the precautionary and preventive measures taken to curb the spread of Covid-19. The campaign was carried out in co-operation with KidzMondo Doha, Aura Entertainment Services and Minipolis entertainment centre of Palma Hospitality Group.

A hawksbill turtle laying eggs.