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TUESDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11511 April 7, 2020 Sha’ban 14, 1441 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

MoI units strive to curb Gazans asked to stay home spread of coronavirus

he Ministry of Interior (MoI) authorities, in addition to participating adopting preventive measures,” he said. has mobilised all its capabili- in community awareness campaigns. In order to ensure safety across the Tties in the fi ght against the novel Lt Col Nayef bin Faleh al-Thani, di- country, the number of patrols has coronavirus (Covid-19) to protect the rector of Al Fazaa, said that the police been increased. The patrols are carried society from the infectious disease by have fully activated their capabilities to protect all quarantine sites, identi- adopting a slew of measures, it was an- and they have been trained to deal with fi ed by the Ministry of Public Health nounced yesterday. the situations arising from the Cov- (MoPH). These sites are fully secured According to an offi cial statement, id-19 outbreak. to reduce the spread of the virus. the MoI departments concerned are “We are facing an exceptional sce- Al Fazaa is also securing the closed working to ensure that the public fol- nario. There should not be any kind parts of the Industrial Area and pa- low the safety guidelines and keen to of negligence. We have to stand fi rm trolling all over the country to moni- implement all decisions of the relevant to prevent the spread of the virus by tor compliance with the instructions issued by the competent authorities. The patrols ensure there is no gather- ing at public places and majlis. Besides, Al Fazaa ensures shops are closed as per the directions. Lt Col Nayef al-Thani clarifi ed that Al Fazaa is aware of the dangers they face in the fi eld. “The patrols are not confi ned to following up the proce- dures and limiting the spread of the virus. They are also aimed at raising public awareness by providing direct Al Fazaa has deployed checkpoints throughout the country with the aim of advice and guidance. They deal fi rmly providing more protection to the community against the risk of the virus and to with violators of the quarantine rules,” Palestinian mounted policemen instruct people at the Gaza beachfront to return home yesterday as part of measures to avoid infection. he said. To Page 3 stem the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

New restrictions on visitors to hospitals Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) UK PM moved to intensive care 228 new Covid-19 cases has announced that new restrictions have been put in place for visitors to HMC hospitals and facilities in order to as Covid-19 symptoms worsen limit the spread of Covid-19. No visitors in Qatar, 131 recover are allowed at any time at Hazm Mebaireek General Hospital, Mesaieed zForeign Secretary a spokesman for his offi ce Hospital, The Cuban Hospital, all Raab to deputise for said. Enaya facilities and all areas classified “The PM has asked Foreign he Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) yester- “With a total of 2,351 persons tested for Covid-19 as Covid-19 facilities. The following Johnson Secretary Dominic Raab, who day announced 228 new confi rmed cases of in the last 24 hours, a total of 38,108 people have restrictions apply to all other hospital is the First Secretary of State, Tcoronavirus (Covid-19) in Qatar, and eight been tested so far,” the MoPH tweet said. There are facilities: Visiting hours are restricted Reuters to deputise for him where new cases of recovery. 1,697 active cases currently undergoing treatment. to 12 noon to 8pm; Only one visitor at London necessary,” Downing Street The total number of Covid-19 cases in the coun- The total number of Covid-19 deaths in Qatar is four. a time for a maximum of 15 minutes; said. “The PM remains con- try now stands at 1,832 while recoveries reached “The MoPH continues to urge everyone to co- Visitors must comply with hospital scious at this time.” 131, according to a tweet by the MoPH. operate fully and adhere to all health guidelines guidelines for personal protective ritish Prime Minis- Downing Street said he had Some new cases are related to travellers who and preventive measures to reduce the risk of in- equipment and hand hygiene. ter Boris Johnson was been moved to the intensive came to Qatar and others related to contacts, ac- fection with the virus, and stresses the importance Bmoved to an intensive care unit as “a precaution cording to the offi cial Qatar News Agency (QNA). of adhering to the decision to prevent all forms of 80 on Australian liner care unit yesterday after his should he require ventilation The new cases have been put into quarantine and assembly and adhere to the procedures of domestic test positive for virus coronavirus symptoms wors- A still image from footage to aid his recovery”. are receiving the necessary medical care, QNA said. quarantine,” QNA added. ened, and his Downing Street released by 10 Downing Johnson, 55, tested positive More than 80 passengers and crew offi ce said he was still con- Street, the off ice of the for the virus on March 26. aboard an Australian cruise ship off scious. British prime minister, on His spokesman had earlier South America have tested positive Britain has no formal suc- April 3, shows Johnson in 10 refused to answer directly af- for the coronavirus, the cruise cession plan should the prime Downing Street in central ter being asked whether he GCO launches virus info service on WhatsApp company and off icials in Uruguay minister become incapaci- London giving an update on had pneumonia. announced yesterday. tated, but Johnson, 55, asked his condition. Raab, 46, the son of a Foreign Secretary Dominic Czech-born Jewish refugee he Government Communications Offi ce rus prevention and symptoms, the latest number 10,335 virus deaths Raab to deputise for him. are treated - at St Thomas’ who fl ed the Nazis in 1938, (GCO) yesterday launched a Coronavirus of cases, advice on staying at home, travel advice reported in the US Johnson was admitted to hospital, across the River was brought up in the south- TInformation Service on WhatsApp. The new and mythbusting. hospital on Sunday night and Thames from the Houses of ern English region of Buck- service, which is free-to-use, provides a central HE the Deputy Director of the Government Com- More than 10,000 people have died had been undergoing tests af- Parliament in central Lon- inghamshire and studied law source of accurate, trustworthy and up-to-date munications Offi ce for Media Aff airs, Sheikh Tham- of coronavirus complications in the ter suff ering persistent coro- don. at Oxford University before information about the coronavirus disease (Cov- er bin Hamad al-Thani, commented: “Maintaining United States since the outbreak navirus symptoms, including Johnson had received oxy- becoming a lawyer working id-19). the safety of citizens and residents in Qatar is our top began in late January, John Hopkins a high temperature, for more gen, a source said. on project fi nance, interna- The Coronavirus Information Service is an au- priority. To ensure that the public is kept informed University said yesterday. The than 10 days. “Over the course of this tional litigation and compe- tomated “chatbot” service that allows citizens during the crisis we have developed a user-friendly Baltimore-based university, which has Downing Street had said he afternoon, the condition tition law. and residents in Qatar to get answers to the most service to give people instant access the most cur- been keeping a running tally of global was in good spirits and still in of the Prime Minister has A karate black belt, he was common questions about coronavirus from the rent information on the virus. This includes the coronavirus numbers, said there are charge, though at about 6pm worsened and, on the advice appointed as foreign minis- Ministry of Public Health and the GCO 24 hours latest statistics from the Ministry of Public Health at least 347,003 confirmed infections (local time) he was moved of his medical team, he has ter in Johnson’s fi rst cabinet a day in six languages: Arabic, English, Urdu, and vital information about how people can protect in the US with 10,335 deaths. to an intensive care unit - been moved to the Intensive after the prime minister took Hindi, Nepali and Malayalam. The service will themselves and others. Our aim is to raise public where the most serious cases Care Unit at the hospital,” offi ce in July 2019.Page 11 provide information on topics such as coronavi- awareness in our community.” Page 3 Canadian army to aid Covid-19 fight ‘Exercise to stay fi t during work-from-home’

By Joey Aguilar my treadmill and indoor tram- Apart from eating healthy Staff Reporter poline for my daily routine, meals and taking vitamins, in- which helps me feel good,” said cluding vitamin D (since many al-Sayed, who is also the patron people have been advised to atar residents can do of Qatar Extreme Sports. stay indoors), al-Sayed under- simple fi tness workouts He stressed that the cur- lined the importance of having Qand exercise while at rent situation is the best time enough sleep, which helps the home, as well as taking nutri- to use fi tness equipment and do body to recuperate and boost tious food and vitamin supple- physical activities with proper athletic performance. ments, to help maintain mental stretching at home. “Having an active and healthy and physical well-being amid Al-Sayed said the outbreak, routine discourages using gadg- the novel coronavirus (Cov- which suspended mass gath- ets all the time, it also gives id-19) outbreak, International erings and prompted many to yourself a chance to read and Walking Football Federation for remain indoors, also provides pray, and all the other aspects Qatar and Asia president Farhan an opportunity for parents to of daily life,” he said, citing the al-Sheikh al-Sayed has said. keep their children out of elec- negative eff ects of using and Speaking to Gulf Times, he tronic gadgets and instead en- spending more time on smart said walking or jogging on a tice them to do other engaging phones and tablets. treadmill (keeping the recom- activities. Al-Sayed said he finds in- mended 10,000 steps daily), or He suggested watching and teracting with each member stationary biking can burn more applying fi tness workouts and of the family and dressing up calories, boost the body’s im- exercises by aerobics and gym in- well, wearing a thobe for ex- Canadian Forces members wait to board buses which will take them to CFB Borden where they will mune system, and create a posi- structors on social media (posted ample, as if going out some- wait in preparation to respond to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) as well as other emergencies at tive impact on people’s health. on Instagram and Facebook) on where, helpful and “can make the request of all three levels of government, in Toronto, Canada, yesterday. “I usually walk a lot and use how to stay active and fi t. Farhan al-Sheikh al-Sayed us feel good.” Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, April 7, 2020 QATAR

FM receives call from Netherlands HMC: Pregnant counterpart HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman women not at risk al-Thani yesterday received a telephone call from the Minister of Foreign Aff airs of the Netherlands Stef Blok. During the phone call, they of severe infection reviewed bilateral relations and co-ordinated eff orts to curb the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19), in addition to issues of z Expectant mothers must take Covid-19 prevention very seriously common concern.

QNA Covid-19 will be more severely particularly as it pertains to FM holds phone Doha unwell than the general popu- pregnancy, but it is known that lation,” said Dr al-Rifai. practising smart hygiene and talk with Japanese Dr al-Rifai noted that while safety procedures, including so- counterpart amad Medical Corpo- healthy pregnant women do not cial distancing, can help prevent ration (HMC) has con- appear to be more at risk for se- Covid-19 infection. HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Hfi rmed that pregnant rious complications, should they “I would advise all pregnant Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh women are not at risk of severe contract Covid-19, it is none- women to be vigilant about hy- A recent QC initiative. Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al- coronavirus infection (Cov- theless important that they take giene and safety, but they should Thani received yesterday a phone id-19), but they must take infec- every precaution to prevent in- not let fear overwhelm them. Keep call from Japan’s Minister of tion prevention seriously. fection from Covid-19 and all up with Covid-19 updates from Foreign Aff airs Toshimitsu Motegi. Medical Director of HMC other viruses. reputable sources and don’t for- The call dealt with the two Women’s Wellness and Re- He also cautions that preg- get the basics, like getting enough More than 151,000 people countries’ co-operation and co- search Center (WWRC) Dr nant women who have a severe sleep and eating a healthy diet. ordination on eff orts to curb the Hilal al-Rifai said that the chronic illness, such as heart, Remember that your doctor or spread of the novel coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic has under- lung, or kidney disease are more midwife is there for you. (Covid-19), in addition to matters standably created stress and at risk for severe Covid-19 ill- Their top priority is to pro- benefi t from QC campaign of mutual interest. anxiety for pregnant women in ness (similar to other patients tect you and your growing baby, the country. with chronic illness) and should so you should never hesitate to Qatar-Belgium He says while pregnant wom- speak to their doctor or midwife reach out with questions,” added bilateral ties en are not thought to be more to ensure they are taking all nec- Dr al-Rifai. QNA The health bags and food- ence of representatives from the susceptible to serious illness essary precautions. The Ministry of Public Health Doha stuff s were distributed in many Ministry of Administrative De- reviewed from the virus, they should take “If you are generally healthy (MoPH) has established a dedi- places, including industrial velopment, Labour and Social prevention very seriously. and having a healthy pregnancy, cated website (www.moph.gov. zones and the quarantine centre Aff airs and volunteers of Qatar HE the Deputy Prime Minister and “We understand that all there is no need for panic, but qa) to provide the public with ome 151,373 people have in Mukaynis. Charity, in addition to 6,000 Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh pregnant women will feel a you should still do everything updates on the current situation benefi ted so far from the Approximately 79,780 ready- meals at the quarantine centre in Mohamed bin Abdulrahman great sense of anxiety about possible to prevent infection. as well as information on how to Sinitiatives undertaken by to-eat meals were distributed Mukaynis and 600 food baskets al-Thani received yesterday a their health and that of their Frequently wash your hands, us- protect themselves and others Qatar Charity (QC) as part of the over three periods, in addition at a number of embassies and telephone call from the Minister unborn baby. In general, preg- ing soap and water and washing from Covid-19. awareness and prevention cam- to 38,326 food baskets, of which communities. of Foreign Aff airs and Defence of nant women are more sus- for at least 20 seconds, especial- A hotline (16000), which is paign against Covid-19, it has 34,926 were provided in the In- Some 12,350 health and medi- Belgium Philippe Goff in. ceptible to illness than non- ly after you have been in a public available 24-hours a day to an- been announced. dustrial Area only. cal materials, including sterilis- During the phone call, they pregnant women, as pregnancy place or after blowing your nose, swer Covid-19 related queries, QC, in co-operation with the Also, some 33,267 health and ers, masks and gloves, were also reviewed bilateral relations and decreases the immune system’s coughing, or sneezing. If soap and an educational social me- authorities concerned in the awareness kits were distributed disturbed among health aware- co-ordinated eff orts to curb response. Therefore, it is un- and water are not available, use dia campaign have also been country, has distributed health within the industrial zones, ex- ness workers. the spread of the coronavirus derstandable that pregnant a hand sanitiser that contains at launched, with the MoPH, and awareness kits, food bas- ternal areas, farm compounds, The instructions included (Covid-19), besides issues of women may feel concern and least 60% alcohol,” said Dr al- HMC, and Primary Health kets and other materials to the construction sites and labour avoiding contact with persons common interest. confusion. However, from the Rifai. Care Corporation (PHCC) beneficiaries, including work- camps. who have symptoms of respi- information we currently have, Dr al-Rifai says the bottom sharing infographics and vid- ers, as well as volunteers par- Besides, 890 health kits were ratory illness like coughing or Qatar attends GCC it does not appear healthy line is that there is still a lot that eos through their social media ticipating in health awareness distributed to the workers of sneezing, as well as avoiding pregnant women who contract is unknown about Covid-19, channels. initiatives. Doha Municipality in the pres- non-essential travel. Standardisation Organisation meet

Qatar has participated in the 16000 hotline statistics 43rd meeting of the GCC QU launches emergency response Standardisation Organisation, held yesterday exceptionally via video conferencing. Qatar was represented at this The Ministry of Public Health grant to study impact of Covid-19 meeting by the Chairman (MoPH) has released the of Qatar Standardisation latest data pertaining to the Organisation, Engineer Mohamed 16000 hotline, as of April 5. bin Saud al-Musallam. atar University (QU) situation that the world is liv- the virus from diff erent perspec- The meeting discussed a number launched an Emergency ing through. The Covid-19 pan- tives, such as incubation dura- of important issues, including the QResponse Grant (ERG) demic has demonstrated the tion, stages, shapes and strains; Memorandum of the Presidency in response to the potential ex- signifi cance value of supporting contributing to the enhance- of Standardisation regarding the ceptional impact of the current researAch on all human, techni- ment of the proper protection speech of the General Secretariat emergency situation of the novel cal and fi nancial levels. plans and awareness; and high- of the Co-operation Council on coronavirus (Covid-19). lighting QU’s role in addressing facilitating and importing goods The 2020 ERG theme is the “This grant is in alignment emerging concerns. and their flow among the GCC MoI unveils website of coronavirus disease (Covid-19), with the university’s Professor Mohamed al-Salem, countries. Strategic which is part of the interna- continuous eff orts to director of Research Support at The meeting was held according tional research eff ort to respond provide research projects QU, said: “Qatar University has to the directives of the first to Covid-19 and supports a rapid related to local and gained valuable experience dur- extraordinary meeting of the magazine initiation of scientifi c research. regional challenges, ing the current challenging days ministers of commerce in Security Studies This specifi c grant is dedicat- especially during the on how to perform during crisis the GCC countries on April ed to emergency circumstances current situation that the and emergency situations. I would 2, to discuss the economic and will provide bridge support world is living through” like to stress on the importance repercussions of the new he Ministry of Interior, magazine will be available on- search in the security fi eld. to new and early stage investi- of this grant as it provides a great coronavirus (Covid-19) on the represented by the Gener- line for researchers and those The website also features books gations that provide a basis for “It also showed us the impor- opportunity for researchers to GCC countries, where they Tal Directorate of Informa- interested inside and outside and recent publications in the more extended research. tance of attracting and sponsor- provide solutions to help human- instructed the Standardisation tion Systems, has launched the the country. strategic security fi eld, in addition Submission for grant can be ing additional research talents. ity to progress and develop for the Organisation to hold an urgent website of the Strategic Security He pointed out that the web- to publishing press reports on the done until April 12 for proposal The university has gained great future and to overcome any chal- meeting to discuss facilitating Studies magazine, a scientifi c site includes an archive of pre- most important scientifi c confer- intention and until April 28 for experience and developed its lenges that the world may face like and importing goods and journal published by the minis- vious issues of the magazine, a ences and events concerned in this fi nal proposals. Submission can educational and research skills Covid-19.” its flow among the GCC try’s Centre for Strategic Secu- special link for refereed stud- regard that are held in the country be done at iGrants: https:// during this global situation and The launch of the grant comes countries in terms of excluding rity Studies. ies and scientifi c research in or abroad, in addition to links to www.conftool.org/igrants/. it deepened its connection with from the university’s concern for some of the specifications Director of the centre, Colo- the strategic security fi eld, and a number of websites or research Professor Mariam al-Maa- the issues of the nation and its the health and safety of the na- requirements during the nel Mohamed Rabia al-Kuwari, another for scientifi c articles centres in the country. deed, vice-president for Re- community. I am very confi dent tion. QU is committed to work- current stage, bearing in mind said in a statement on this oc- specialised in this fi eld at the lo- The magazine can be ac- search and Graduate Studies that this grant will help us to at- ing with its faculty and research- that the recommendations of casion that the magazine’s cal, regional and international cessed through the website of at QU, said: “This grant is in tract distinguished specialised ers to contribute to the current yesterday’s meeting will be new website comes within levels, along with a section on the Ministry of Interior: ht- alignment with the university’s research talents.” research investigations. ERG has discussed during a meeting the ministry’s plan for digital the Ministry of Interior Security tps://portal.moi.gov.qa, or continuous eff orts to provide The grant’s objectives include a short life cycle to accelerate the to be held by GCC countries’ transformation, a plan imple- Research Prize that the ministry through the direct link: https:// research projects related to lo- establishing dedicated research start of the awarded projects, commerce undersecretaries, and mented under the slogan ‘Min- conducts annually with the aim portal.moi.gov.qa/securitys- cal and regional challenges, projects and teams to tackle the due to the critical nature of the representatives of the ministries istry without papers’, where the of encouraging scientifi c re- tudies - QNA especially during the current coronavirus disease; studying situations. of commerce later. - QNA QFFD eff ectively contributes to global poverty alleviation eff orts

QNA the total $500mn capital of the besides strengthening Qatar’s countries achieve sustainable Fund’s mechanism of action portunities, he added. main goals of sustainable devel- Doha LLF, which provides develop- eff orts in development aid in development goals. and its openness and trans- He said that the Lives and opment, which are good educa- ing countries with development diff erent regions of the world, “LLF is the largest develop- parency, stating that the ac- Livelihoods Fund off ers what tion, good health and welfare, funds estimated at $2bn. in addition to the country’s role ment initiative in the Middle tion mechanism ensures that is needed to deal with extreme decent work and economic riven by its pledged role During its chairmanship of in providing humanitarian and East. It works to improve fi nanc- all constructive comments are poverty in the Islamic region. growth. in relief and humani- the Lives and Livelihoods Fund, relief assistance throughout the ing models and innovative part- taken into account in a way that Hence, the role of the Fund It also seeks to signifi cantly Dtarian work around the March 2019-March 2020, QFFD world. nerships in order to achieve the is clearly reflected in the ac- emerges as a means to benefi t infl uence vital and important world, Qatar, through the Qatar has striven to translate the mes- In the context, QFFD’s Dep- sustainable development goals, tions taken by the management and exchange knowledge as well areas for achieving the sustain- Fund for Development (QFFD), sage of the Fund by providing uty Director General for Stra- and to help IsDB member states as well as the fruitful co-oper- as a way to work within various able development goals, such has participated in launching development fi nancial tools tegic Planning Ali Abdullah al- to achieve those goals, utilising ation with the management of sectors and in the countries of as agriculture, health and basic the Lives and Livelihoods Fund to developing and the poorest Dabbagh, who has also headed their partners’ great practical the Islamic Development Bank the Organisation of Islamic Co- infrastructure, which are con- (LLF), the largest development countries in the Islamic world, LLF’s Impact Committee from experience in strengthening the Group and all its great efforts operation, he pointed out. sidered an ideal way to achieve initiative in the Middle East, through multi-regional and in- March 2019 to March 2020, has targeted sectors. taken to consolidate the goals Al-Shahwani noted QFFD’s these goals. working to improve fi nancing ternational fi nancing partner- underlined Qatar’s role and its On QFFD’s future vision and of the Lives and Livelihoods experience in the areas of de- As a major contributor to the models and innovative partner- ships. keen attention to international the future development areas, Fund and to place it at the core velopment and humanitarian Lives and Livelihoods Fund, ships, and focusing on issues of The mission of the Lives and developments, as well as its en- QFFD’s Deputy Director Gen- of its interests. aff airs, through which, despite QFFD continues to play its im- extreme poverty and support Livelihoods Fund is to assist the deavours in promoting health, eral for Development Projects On the extent to which visions its novelty, it managed to high- portant role in supporting the for marginalised people with the poorest countries of developing education and agricultural de- Misfer Hamad al-Shahwani, and strategies are harmonised light its pioneering role and to Fund’s mission. aim of achieving sustainable de- IsDB member states by fi nancing velopment; leading to strength- in a statement to Qatar News between the Qatar Fund for De- share that experience with other The Lives and Livelihoods velopment goals. the areas of healthcare, agricul- ening and stimulating the pro- Agency (QNA), highlighted the velopment, the Lives and Liveli- donors in order to enhance the Fund is seeking to consolidate The Lives and Livelihoods ture and basic infrastructure de- duction process in developing progress achieved by the “Lives hoods Fund and the Islamic De- role of the Lives and Livelihoods its position internationally as an Fund was established in co-op- velopment. countries. and Livelihoods Fund” as well as velopment Bank, al-Shahwani Fund. eff ective and innovative fund in eration between the Islamic De- QFFD’s contribution to estab- In remarks to QNA, al-Dab- its steady improvement since its said that QFFD and the Islamic He clarifi ed that the period of the world of development. velopment Bank (IsDB) Group, lishing and supporting the LLF bagh pointed out that the QFFD establishment, as it has proven Development Bank are work- the QFFD’s chairmanship of the The Qatar Fund for Develop- the Bill and Melinda Gates Foun- comes within the framework of contribution to the establish- its ability to realising and meet- ing towards achieving the goals Lives and Livelihoods Fund was ment continues to benefi t from dation, and a number of regional the pioneering role that Qatar ment of the LLF was prompted ing the expectations of both of sustainable development and an opportunity to assume the the Lives and Livelihoods Fund, and international partners. plays in improving the condi- by the outstanding importance the donor group and the target making the world a better place. leadership role in this innovative as a medium for change in prior- Upon the launch of Fund in tions of developing nations in the of fi nding an eff ective mecha- countries along with cementing Through their work, they seek multilateral initiative, and that ity sectors, a way to diversify the April 2016, Qatar represented Islamic world, through invest- nism for lifting the most de- its position at the international to open the doors of hope, peace enhanced the experience of the countries in which it is operating by the QFFD, has contributed ment in the health, agriculture prived people out of poverty, level. and justice for those who cannot QFFD. and to diversify expertise and an amount of $50mn, out of and basic infrastructure sectors, as well as helping developing Al-Shahwani praised the obtain basic rights and equal op- QFFD seeks to achieve the experience. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 7, 2020 3 QATAR GCO launches virus info service on WhatsApp

he Government Commu- tion Service is an automated as coronavirus prevention and ensure that the public is kept in- awareness in our community.” questions about the virus with can also direct users to online nications Offi ce (GCO) “chatbot” service that allows symptoms, the latest number of formed during the crisis we have WhatsApp’s Chief Operating reliable, timely health advice, in resources. Tyesterday launched a citizens and residents in Qatar cases, advice on staying at home, developed a user-friendly serv- Offi cer Matt Idema commented: order to keep people safe.” To use the free Coronavirus Coronavirus Information Serv- to get answers to the most com- travel advice and mythbusting. ice to give people instant access “At diffi cult times like these, The Coronavirus Informa- Information Service on What- ice on WhatsApp. The new mon questions about coronavi- HE the Deputy Director of the the most current information people use WhatsApp more than tion Service has been built on sApp, simply save the number service, which is free-to-use, rus from the Ministry of Public Government Communications on the virus. This includes the ever to connect with and sup- the WhatsApp Business API over +974 6006 0601 in your phone provides a central source of ac- Health and the GCO 24 hours Offi ce for Media Aff airs, Sheikh latest statistics from the Min- port their friends, family and Infobip’s global communication contacts, then send a What- curate, trustworthy and up- a day in six languages: Arabic, Thamer bin Hamad al-Thani, istry of Public Health and vital communities. We are pleased platform to provide timely and sApp message in any language to-date information about the English, Urdu, Hindi, Nepali and commented: “Maintaining the information about how peo- to be able to provide Qatar with critical information to the popu- to get started. The conversation coronavirus disease (Covid-19). Malayalam. The service will pro- safety of citizens and residents ple can protect themselves and the communications tools to lation about the virus. For more can also be started via: https:// The Coronavirus Informa- vide information on topics such in Qatar is our top priority. To others. Our aim is to raise public help them respond to citizens’ advanced queries, the chatbot wa.me/97460060601text=Hi ‘Children see learning as lifelong activity through remote schooling’ n offi cial of Qatar Foun- present online with the teacher, Leeming noted that all educa- home rather than from their Sheikh Dr Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani, director, Public Health at MoPH. dation (QF) has high- interacting in real-time; some is tion systems have their particular classrooms. Alighted how QF schools asynchronous, allowing learning challenges and benefi ts. “Lack “The teachers have responded are delivering e-learning – and anytime, anywhere. Some ses- of social contact with peers and magnifi cently. It is often under how students, parents, and sions are live, others are record- teachers presents potential emo- such circumstances that the fl ex- teachers have responded to it. ed. Live sessions are often re- tional health issues, and there are ibility, good-will and sheer in- MoPH training “Pupils have engaged enthu- corded and then posted to allow potential safeguarding and child ventiveness of people comes to siastically and we have recorded students who missed a session to protection issues with the great- the fore. We are a technologically strong attendance numbers catch-up,” he added. er reliance on children’s access to mature school system, though, so and high quality work. Parents The offi cial noted that QF has a the internet through home ac- all our teachers are skilled in the have been both supportive and wide variety of schools and stu- cess points rather than our own concepts of 21st Century learning, at least 30,000 grateful,” said Stuart V Leem- dents, and, just as in the regular controlled and fi ltered network. much of which is predicated on ing, executive director, Qatar world, the e-learning experi- On the positive side, children the underpinning technology that Foundation Schools. ence has to be tailored to suit the develop greater self-reliance and is supporting our current delivery “As part of its contingency children’s needs. begin to understand that learning of virtual schools,” he described. planning, QF schools have been Stuart Leeming, executive “In the case of Awsaj Academy is a lifelong activity that doesn’t “E-learning is as diverse as volunteers for developing online learning plat- director, Qatar Foundation and Renad Academy, one has have to be confi ned to school classroom learning. It has to be forms and processes for some Schools. to begin with the needs of indi- buildings and the school day. The tailored to the age and the needs time. We are a school system vidual students – the system has opportunity for the future is to of the individual student. ‘One- that uses virtual learning envi- into our primary school curricu- to adapt to them, not the other deliver more learning on demand size-fi ts-all’ doesn’t work in the ronments heavily as part of the lum too, and all the necessary way round. And in some cases, with the availability of attractive, classroom, and it doesn’t work Covid-19 tasks normal routine, rather than pa- technical infrastructure was in the primary relationship is be- online courses,” he said. online. The richness of what we per textbooks and notebooks, so place,” stated Leeming. tween the school and the parent, However, Leeming said that are off ering through our virtual very little change was needed at “We use a variety of tech- with the school making it possi- the sudden transition to e-learn- schools refl ects the richness of the older grades for content de- niques that refl ect the diversity ble for the parent to provide the ing has been very demanding on the skills and expertise of our he Ministry of Public possible quality of training,” he livery and submission of assign- of our schools. Some e-learning learning experience under close teachers, especially since they well-qualifi ed and dedicated Health (MoPH) is cur- said. ments. Technology is integrated is synchronous, with all the class guidance,” he explained. have been required to work from faculty,” Leeming added. Trently training about “If all abide by the protective 30,000-35,000 volunteers as and precautionary measures part of Qatar’s measures against against Covid-19, the situation the novel coronavirus (Cov- in Qatar will improve and within id-19) outbreak, a top offi cial has four weeks we could see a re- told Qatar Television. laxation of the restrictions as the UN offi cials praise Qatar Sheikh Dr Mohamed bin Ha- number of new cases would drop mad al-Thani, director, Public considerably,” Dr Mohamed al- Health Department, explained Thani said. that those volunteers who “The escalation of the number pass the training course are to of new cases of Covid-19 in Qa- for Covid-19 measures be assigned for various tasks. tar is mainly due to the increas- “Those who do not pass, have ing number of lab test results, to wait until they can get further accelerated recently. How- nited Nations repre- evacuation of people stranded and the region in order to inform training.” ever, the situation is still under sentatives have praised in the epidemic areas, including them about Qatar’s eff orts lo- This is important for their control. UQatar’s eff orts in com- UN personnel, the offi cial Qatar cally and internationally in com- own protection and to help them “Those who violate the con- bating the Covid-19 outbreak at News Agency (QNA) reported bating Covid-19 and to answer eff ectively undertake the des- ditions of the optional home the national-level and for all the yesterday. their queries in this regard. From the UN, director of tar Dr Abdel Salam Sidahmed, ignated job. All volunteers from health quarantine would even- people who live in the country This came during a remote The meeting was attended by Unesco’s Offi ce in the Arab Unicef head of Offi ce in Qatar diff erent backgrounds and edu- tually contribute to increase the without discrimination by pro- meeting that the Assistant HE the Adviser to the Minister of States of the Gulf and Yemen Anthony MacDonald, acting cational levels are needed but number of cases, even though viding free medical examina- Foreign Minister and Offi cial Foreign Aff airs for International Dr Anna Paolini, director of the head of Offi ce at UNHCR Ayat they have to be physically fi t and they are just a minority. tions and high-quality services. Spokesperson of the Supreme Development, representative of International Labour Organi- El Dewary and World Health enthusiastic about the service. “The majority of the society They also commended the Committee for Crisis Manage- the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs sation Offi ce in Qatar Houtan Organisation representative “We have a challenge to get have displayed a very high-level international eff orts of Qatar by ment, HE Lolwah bint Rashid in the National Committee to Homayounpour, director of the in the region Dr Rayana Bou- them to work as quickly as pos- of discipline and follow the rules sending medical shipments and AlKhater, held with a number Combat the Coronavirus, Khalid UN Human Rights Training and Haka participated in the remote sible but in the meantime we and recommendations strictly,” aid to friendly countries, and the of UN representatives in Qatar bin Rashid al-Mansouri. Documentation Centre in Qa- meeting. should maintain the highest the director added.

Chloroquine looks promising to treat Covid-19: expert Honda Odyssey hloroquine and Hydrox- populations, which indicates creating what is called passive there is no scientifi c evidence so ychloroquine, drugs used that these drugs could be prom- immunity,” he observed. far that they could contract the Cfor a very long time to ising prevention and treatment “The incubation period of disease again at least within the models of treat malaria, are promising for for the disease,” senior scientist the virus could be 14 days and next six months or one year. the treatment and prevention Dr Fouad al-Shaaban explained. for a person with strong immu- “The only proven method of the novel coronavirus (Cov- “However, such drugs need nity it could take more than 28 of prevention and protection 2018-2020 id-19), an expert with the Qatar more clinical research and days to recover. While some in- against Covid-19 is social and Biomedical Research Institute testing to prove their valid- fected persons may not display physical distancing and health (QBRI) told Qatar TV yesterday. ity and this could take up to any symptoms within the fi rst quarantine while strictly abid- recalled “The countries that use such two or three weeks more. The 14 days , he could transmit the ing by all the preventive pre- drugs to treat malaria, such use of the antibodies from the disease to others. cautionary measures to contain as (those in) Africa and India, plasma of those healed of Cov- “There are a very high per- any further spread of the dis- he Ministry of Commerce have very low rates of Covid-19 id-19 could also be a promis- centage of Covid-19 infected ease,” Dr al-Shaaban added in and Industry, in co-op- infection despite having huge ing treatment for new cases by people who often heal well, and his conversation with Qatar TV. Dr Fouad al-Shaaban speaking at a programme on Qatar TV yesterday. Teration with Domasco (Doha Marketing Services Co), announced the recall of Honda Odyssey models of 2018-2020 as the third row seat wire harness might be exposed and damaged, MoI units strive to curb spread of virus which may lead to an electric spark and cause a fi re. From Page 1 sponse of the citizens and ance to vehicle drivers have are currently under a lock- The ministry confi rmed the residents to all the guidelines been consolidated through down are secured as part of recall campaign comes within Al Fazaa has deployed check- and advice and added that so- the offi cial-specifi ed follow- precaution. the framework of its ongoing ef- points throughout the country ciety’s contribution in fi ght- up and inspection points. He pointed out that the pa- forts to protect consumers and with the aim of providing more ing Covid-19 is the best way These are with the purpose of trols are carried out to follow ensure that vehicle dealers follow protection to the community to get rid of it. educating road users to stay in up on the implementation of up on defects and repairs. against the risk of the virus and Lt Col Jabr Ali al-Kubaisi, their homes to maintain their the decisions by the Supreme The ministry said that it will to avoid infection. assistant director of Patrol and safety and support Qatar’s Committee for Crisis Manage- co-ordinate with the dealer to The director of Al-Najda Traffi c Investigation Depart- eff orts in confronting this ment. The duty of monitoring follow up on the maintenance Police Department confi rmed ment of the General Directo- global pandemic,” Lt Col al- the hotels allocated for quar- and repair works and will com- there is complete co-oper- rate of Traffi c, said that the Pa- Kubaisi said. antine is held in co-ordination municate with customers to en- ation with Hamad Medical trol Department has provided Accompanying buses and with various departments. sure that the necessary repairs Corporation (HMC) and other round-the-clock support to all vehicles such as those from The offi cial explained that are carried out. stakeholders. The special pa- relevant departments of MoI the airport to quarantine or reduced traffi c on the roads It urges all customers to report trols, according to him, have such as Al Fazaa, the Capital Se- from quarantine sites to hos- has brought down the number any violations to its Consumer not aff ected its main duties curity Department and security pitals are given adequate sup- of road accidents and de- Protection and Anti-Commer- Al Fazaa has deployed checkpoints throughout the country with the aim of in keeping the security and departments in external areas. port. Roads and intersections scribed it as the result of cial Fraud Department, which providing more protection to the community against the risk of the virus stability of the society. “Eff orts to secure street and going to and coming from the the awareness eff orts by the processes complaints, inquiries and to avoid infection. He praised the strong re- road traffi c, advice and guid- Industrial Area 1 to 32, which authorities. and suggestions. Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, April 7, 2020 REGION/ARAB WORLD Mosque converted into mask factory in Iran

AFP “Our situation is doubly diffi - Tehran cult since we are facing both the sanctions and the coronavirus,” President Hassan Rouhani said t a Tehran mosque con- yesterday, referring to the puni- verted into a factory, tive measures the US has reim- Awomen volunteers who posed on Iran since pulling out would normally attend to visi- of a nuclear deal in 2018. tors to the old battlefi elds of the The national and foreign Iran-Iraq war have joined the media were invited to the Im- fi ght against coronavirus. amzadeh-Masum mosque in Lined up like factory workers, a southwestern district of the around 15 women have taken up Iranian capital where the wom- positions in front of table-top en have been working. As the sewing machines to produce face seamstresses stitch, a team is in masks. charge of cutting out and sort- But instead of overalls they are ing the masks, which are placed clad in black chadors, for they in buckets. are members of the Basij, a vol- Other women fold and arrange unteer militia loyal to Iran’s Is- the printed sheets of material as lamic establishment. they are produced. And in a sign of the times for In another room of the place Iran, one of the countries worst- of worship, men sitting on hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, prayer mats make plastic gloves almost all of the women are with rudimentary heat-sealing wearing masks. Iranian women, members of paramilitary organisation Basij, make face masks and other protective items at a mosque in the capital Tehran, amid the novel coronavirus pandemic devices. “We distribute these “Our group used to go to the crisis. Right: Iranian men, members of paramilitary organisation Basij, make protective gloves inside a mosque in Tehran. products to hospitals and de- battlefi elds of the Iran-Iraq war prived areas in Tehran and sever- every year to serve visitors,” said The group of about 40 women New Year holidays as part of tween cities was banned and we our compatriots. We’ve been in the national eff ort to combat al other cities,” Saidi explained. Fatemeh Saidi, a 27-year-old travels annually to the battle- their education. were not able to go there,” said working on this for more than a the Covid-19 pandemic, which One of the volunteers made no woman involved in the Basij with fi elds of the 1980-1988 war that “This year, because of the Saidi. month,” she added. has claimed more than 3,700 secret of the religious reasons for her husband. youths visit during the Persian spread of coronavirus, travel be- “So we came here to serve It’s a task they see as their role lives in Iran. her contribution.

Tripoli hospital under fi re as continued shelling defi es virus

Reuters which has been attempting to capture Tunis Tripoli for a year. Abu Salim council posted photographs showing damaged cars in the hospital rojectiles struck the grounds of a grounds and said fi ve people had been in- hospital in Tripoli yesterday in an jured in the attack. Parea held by the internationally rec- A local aid group said six of the hospi- ognised government near a frontline, resi- tal’s patients had been evacuated. Libya’s dents said, even as Libya struggled to pre- health infrastructure has been badly re- pare for an outbreak of the coronavirus. duced by years of chaos and confl ict since The residents said they heard loud the 2011 uprising against strongman blasts and then saw black smoke rising Muammar Gaddafi , and aid agencies have from the area around the hospital during warned it is poorly prepared to withstand a day of heavy mutual bombardment by a major coronavirus outbreak. Libya’s warring sides. Libya has confi rmed 18 cases of the The local council of Abu Salim district virus so far, but despite the pleas of the Fayez al-Sarraj (centre), prime minister of Libya’s UN-recognised Government of National said the hospital had been targeted by United Nations for a ceasefi re, the confl ict Accord (GNA), along with other members of his cabinet all wearing protective masks as a rockets fi red by the eastern-based Libyan has escalated sharply over the past two precaution against Covid-19, gather for a meeting discussing procedures to counter the National Army (LNA) of Khalifa Haftar, weeks. global pandemic, in the capital Tripoli, yesterday. Syrian refugee in Lebanon sets himself alight amid crisis

DPA Beirut

Syrian man set himself on fi re in eastern Lebanon over the week- Aend, apparently in protest at the lack of work available as a consequence of measures introduced to quell the spread of the new coronavirus. Lebanon’s lockdown had caused a lack of work and that, coupled with an already diffi cult economic situation in the country, had prevented the man from meeting his family expenses, ac- cording to Beyond Association, a non- governmental organisation that works with Syrian refugees. The incident occurred in the the Bekaa region. Bassam Hallak poured petrol over himself and set himself ablaze. He was taken to hospital, where he died. The Lebanese National News Agen- cy said the man died after suff ering third-degree burns. A video of the man ablaze went viral on social media. “Syrian refugees are facing diffi cult times, especially those who are working in factories and other wCustomers wearing face masks and gloves queue outside a supermarket, jobs on a daily basis and they do not during a lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in have permits from the Lebanese au- Beirut, Lebanon, yesterday. thorities,” Maria Assi, chief executive of Beyond Association, said. Lebanon hosts nearly 1mn Syrians tered. Lockdown measures have added Assi stressed that Syrian refugees who are offi cially registered with the to the burden of refugees and the Leb- who work farming fi elds are still work- United Nations as refugees. anese, with the country experienc- ing but that others face an “unknown But the number living in Lebanon is ing its worst economic crisis since the future.” higher, as some refugees are not regis- 1975-1990 civil war.

Rockets land near oil district in Iraq

Reuters the attack and said in a statement one oil workers and offi ces of both for- Basra, Iraq rocket landed near a health centre in a eign and Iraqi oil companies, but has district which includes administration been largely empty in recent weeks offi ces for state-run and foreign oil after nearly all foreign personnel were ockets landed near a district companies without causing any casu- evacuated because of the coronavirus in Iraq that houses workers for alties or damage. pandemic. Rforeign oil companies yester- Another rocket landed near the pe- Two offi cials with state-run Basra day, including US oil service company rimeter of Zubair oilfi eld, operated by Oil Co, which oversees oil operations Halliburton, but caused no damage or Italy’s Eni, without causing any dam- in the south, said the attack had not casualties, oil and police sources said. age or disrupting operations, said oil aff ected production or export opera- Police said three Katyusha rockets ministry spokesman Asim Jihad. tions. were launched around 3am local time According to the oil ministry state- There was no immediate claim of and hit the Burjesia residential and ment, which described the attack as responsibility for the attack. Police operations headquarters west of Iraq’s “unjustifi ed criminal acts”, fi ve rockets said they deployed additional forces to main southern city, Basra. in total were fi red. search the area. A launcher and 11 unfi red rockets Three landed in an uninhabited area. Paramilitary groups have regularly were found nearby and dismantled by An Iraqi employee working with Hal- been rocketing and shelling bases in security forces, according to the state- liburton said the rockets fell far from Iraq that host US forces and the area ment. The oil ministry denounced the site. The district houses foreign around the US embassy in Baghdad. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 7, 2020 5 REGION Iran says virus infections Kuwait locks down two districts, extends public show ‘gradual’ decline holiday over pandemic AFP Tehran Tehran ‘will never ask US for coronavirus help’ Reuters/Agencies The two districts to be put of tests being carried out. Iran will never ask the United States for help in the pered their efforts to curb the outbreak, urging Dubai under a two-week “com- OMAN REPORTS he trajectory of corona- fight against the new coronavirus, Foreign Ministry other countries and the United Nations to call on plete isolation” are Jleeb al- 33 NEW CASES virus infections in Iran spokesman Abbas Mousavi said yesterday. the United States to lift them. “They (the US) are Shuyoukh and Mahboula, two The Ministry of Health in the Tappears to have started a Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has trying to force Tehran to accept negotiations with uwait placed a full lock- heavily populated areas where Sultanate of Oman announced “gradual” downward trend, the rejected off ers from Washington of humanitarian America,” Mousavi said. Trump says the nuclear down on two densely- poorer expatriate workers live. yesterday the registration of 33 government said yesterday, but assistance for Iran, the Middle Eastern country so deal was not strong enough and wants to apply Kpopulated districts and “The decision to isolate (the new cases of Covid-19, bring- it warned the disease is far from far worst-aff ected by the coronavirus, with 3,739 “maximum pressure” on Iran to accept tougher extended a public holiday by two area areas) is in order to ing the total number of con- being under control. deaths and 60,500 people infected according to curbs to its nuclear programme, halt its ballistic two weeks until April 26 as pre- test everyone in there and treat fi rmed cases in the Sultanate to The Covid-19 outbreak the latest figures yesterday. “Iran has never asked missile work and end its support for proxy forces cautionary measures against them so it does not impact oth- 331, QNA reported. claimed 136 lives in the past 24 and will not ask America to help Tehran in its fight in the Middle East. Iran says it will not negotiate the coronavirus, the cabinet er areas,” the state news agency The number of cases of re- hours, bringing Iran’s overall against the outbreak...But America should lift all its unless Washington lifts sanctions. France, Ger- said yesterday. KUNA reported the interior covery from Covid-19 infec- death toll to 3,739, health min- illegal unilateral sanctions on Iran,” Mousavi said in many and Britain exported medical goods to Iran It also extended its partial minister as saying. tion had risen to 61 and two istry spokesman Kianoush Ja- a televised news conference. Tensions between in the first transaction conducted under Instex, curfew by two hours in the Countries of the six-mem- have sadly died, the ministry hanpour told a televised news the two countries have been high since 2018, a trade mechanism set up to barter humanitar- morning to run from 5pm (1400 ber Gulf Co-operation Council added, according to Oman’s conference. when US President Donald Trump quit a 2015 ian goods and food after the US withdrawal from GMT) until 6am eff ective since (GCC) have recorded almost News Agency. Iran registered 2,274 new agreement that lifted sanctions on Iran in return the nuclear deal, Germany said last week. These yesterday until further notice. 8,000 cases of infection and 60 The ministry called on all cases of infection over the same for curbs to its nuclear programme. Washington initial steps to implement the Instex system are The interior minister urged deaths. citizens and residents to ad- period, he said, putting the to- reimposed sanctions which have crippled the positive but not sufficient, Iran’s President Has- people to stay indoors even The United Arab Emirates here to procedures by staying tal number at 60,500 across the Iranian economy. san Rouhani told French President Emmanuel during non-curfew hours. reported 277 new coronavirus in an isolated room attached country. The fi gure shows a drop Iranian authorities say US sanctions have ham- Macron, according to Press TV. The Gulf Arab country has cases, its biggest daily jump, to a toilet, and serve the iso- in offi cially reported new cases recorded 665 cases of the new and one new death. lated person from outside the of the novel coronavirus for the coronavirus and one death so Dubai has also sealed off a room as instructed. not go out sixth consecutive day after a have not confi ned the population New Year holidays on Saturday, what appeared to be unneces- far. densely populated neighbour- unless necessary. peak of 3,111 reached on March but have adopted other restric- the authorities and many Ira- sary outings. Images circulated It declared a two-week hood where many blue-collar Saudi Arabia placed its 31. tions such as closing most busi- nians have expressed concern on social media showed many public holiday from March 12 workers live. capital Riyadh and other big Tehran announced its fi rst nesses deemed non-essential. about the negative impact of the mask-clad passengers on Te- except for entities providing In total, the UAE has record- cities under a 24-hour curfew Covid-19 cases on February 19, Rouhani announced yesterday disease spreading further, espe- hran’s underground trains and essential services, which has ed 2,076 coronavirus cases and yesterday, locking down much when it said two people died that the authorities had given cially in Tehran. crowded buses. since been extended. 11 deaths. of the population as the larg- from the illness. the go-ahead for the resumption Zohreh, a housewife in the There has also been an in- Yesterday, the cabinet said A ministry of health est Gulf country expanded Iran is by far the country most of certain economic activities city, said she had felt “terror- crease in the number of cars and all ministries and government spokeswoman said the rise in efforts to stem the spread of aff ected by the pandemic in the “step by step” from April 11. ised” to see so many people take other vehicles on the streets of institutions would now remain case numbers in recent days the new coronavirus, Reuters Middle East, according to offi cial Since the end of the Persian to the streets of the capital for the Iranian capital. on holiday until April 26. was due to increased numbers reported. tolls released by each state. “Due to the intensifi cation of the social distancing policy, we have seen a gradual and slow de- cline in the number of new cases in recent days,” Jahanpour said. Attack on Yemen jail condemned President Hassan Rouhani re- peated calls for people to stay at home as he warned Iran could be AFP section of the prison with mortar shells, accord- “put back in a diffi cult situation” Dubai ing to the government’s Saba news agency. The unless people follow guidelines. Houthis “categorically denied” responsibility for Jahanpour reiterated this, say- the attack, in a tweet by the spokesman for their ing: “I hope that the strongest nternational rights groups yesterday con- armed wing, Yahya Saree. possible adherence to these in- demned an attack on a prison in Yemen’s be- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights structions...will allow us to enter Isieged city of Taiz that left six women and a Michelle Bachelet said the Taiz attack could a phase of disease control and child dead. amount to a war crime. containment.” A handout picture provided by the Iranian Presidency yesterday, shows Iranian President Hassan Rouhani The internationally-recognised government “We understand three shells, allegedly fi red by In an attempt to limit the flanked by Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri (right) and Presidential Chief of staff Mahmud Vaezi during a has accused the Houthi rebels of carrying out the Houthis, hit the women’s section of the pris- spread of the disease, authorities cabinet session in the capital Tehran. Sunday’s attack. The rebels targeted the female on,” she said in a statement. Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, April 7, 2020 QATAR 151,000 persons benefit from Qatar Charity’s campaign against COVID-19 he number of beneficiaries of Qatar Charity’s (QC) in- food baskets at many embassies and communities. terventions in the awareness and prevention campaign Some 12,350 health and medical materials, including ster- Tagainst the Coronavirus (COVID-19) reached 151,373 per- ilizers, masks and gloves were also disturbed to health aware- sons. ness workers. In the field of awareness, 90,000 copies of aware- Qatar Charity, in cooperation with the concerned authori- ness leaflets were distributed, and 28 awareness videos were ties of the country, has distributed health and awareness bags, released in four languages Arabic, English, Hindi and Filipino. food baskets and other materials to the beneficiaries, including Besides, Qatar Charity continues to produce awareness videos workers, and volunteers participating in raising health aware- in various languages to post them on social media platforms. ness during the period from March 18 to April 5. Qatar Charity also benefited from the efforts of many vol-

The health bags and foodstuffs were distributed in many unteers of this campaign, who numbered about 8,700 persons areas, including industrial areas, and the Quarantine Center in from nine different nationalities. Mukaynis. Approximately 79,780 ready-to-eat meals were dis- The awareness campaign included instructions on washing tributed over three periods, in addition to 38,326 food baskets, your hands with soap and water, covering the nose and mouth of which 34,926 were provided in the industrial area only. Some with a clean tissue when coughing and sneezing and throwing 33,267 health and awareness bags were distributed within the the used tissue in the trash immediately, and avoiding touching industrial areas, other external places, farm compounds, con- nose, eyes and mouth. struction sites, and labor camps. The instructions also included avoiding contact with per- Yesterday, 890 health bags were distributed to the work- sons who have symptoms of respiratory illness like coughing or ers of the Doha Municipality, in the presence of representatives sneezing, and avoiding non-essential travel. from the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Qatar Charity is now working on helping 30 countries to Social Affairs, and volunteers of Qatar Charity, in addition to limit the spread of this pandemic, by launching awareness cam- 6000 meals at the Quarantine Center in Mukaynis and 600 paigns and distributing medical equipment and hygiene item. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 7, 2020 7 AFRICA DR Congo confi nes, disinfects business district to fi ght virus z Rwanda ministers told to forgo month’s pay for coronavirus zAngola deploys emergency police, armoured vans to enforce lockdown

AFP Kinshasa

inshasa yesterday closed off its upmarket business Kdistrict for two weeks and began large-scale disinfection in a bid to root out DR Congo’s main suspected source of coronavirus. Access to Gombe, which hous- es the country’s main institu- tions, banks and foreign embas- sies as well as upscale homes, was barricaded off to everyone except local residents and key workers, an AFP journalist saw. “The choice of this district is linked to the fact that it’s from Gombe that the virus is spread- Police off icers stationed at barriers marking the entrance to the residential commune of La Gombe in ing little by little to other dis- A woman has her temperature measured at Penda Health Clinic Umoja II in Nairobi, Kenya, yesterday. Kinshasa, yesterday. tricts,” the health authorities said in a daily statement. set side from a city where poverty the true number of infections is It put forward a “realistic” sce- would show “solidarity” with “unnecessary movements” out- the state of emergency,” Luanda “Massive disinfection of the and dysfunction are rife. likely to be far higher — but Af- nario in which the pandemic lasts the people, who have been un- side the home on March 21. police spokesman Mateus Rod- offi ces and main buildings in Go- People waited patiently to get rica is especially vulnerable to the until July but Africa “is not very der a tough lockdown and strict Angola yesterday deployed a rigues said over national radio. mbe district has been scheduled through the barricades, clutching disease given its packed urban aff ected”, and a “pessimistic” curbs on freedoms to contain the special police unit in armoured Angola has so far detected 14 during this period. passes issued by city hall. slums, poor sanitation and sub- scenario in which it lasts until spread of the virus. vehicles to patrol Luanda streets cases of the novel coronavirus Once everything has been “I waited more than two hours, standard health care. August and Africa suff ers more. “The government of Rwanda to enforce anti-coronavirus reg- and recorded two deaths — a rel- cleaned in Gombe, other areas but I’m not complaining, because Dozens of countries around The fi rst would cause the Af- has decided, over and above on- ulations as people continued to atively low fi gure compared with will be targeted,” it said. this disease is very deadly,” said Africa have imposed restric- rican economy to shrink by 0.8% going social protection initia- venture outside despite restric- other countries in the southern On Thursday, Kinshasa Gover- Jerome Lumosi, 35, who works tions on mobility such as cur- and the second would cause it to tives, that all cabinet members, tions on movement. Africa region. nor Gentiny Ngobila announced at the National Institute of Bio- fews, lockdowns, fl ight bans and shrink by 1.1% — both far cries permanent secretaries, heads President Joao Lourenco de- But governments across the con- that Gombe, one of the capital’s medical Research — the DRC’s school closures. from the 3.4% growth the Afri- of public institutions and other clared a state of emergency in the tinent have scrambled to shut their 26 districts, would be “placed in scientifi c vanguard in the fi ght THREE-WEEK BAN ON can Development Bank projected senior offi cials shall forfeit one southwest African country last borders and restrict movement in a quarantine” from April 6-20. against coronavirus. MOVEMENT IN KENYA for the continent before the pan- month’s salary (April),” he said in month to halt the spread of the bid to prevent further spread. De- The district “is considered to During the partial lockdown, Kenya yesterday imposed a demic hit. a statement Sunday. “Together, deadly virus — banning travel, spite the restrictions, many Ango- be the epicentre of the epidemic teams in Kinshasa will “look for three-week ban on movement The AU suggested that the Af- we shall rein in this epidemic.” meetings and public activities with lans view earning money, fi nding in the city,” he said. sick people but also investigate in and out of the capital Nairobi, rican Union Commission “lead The government has been pro- the aim of keeping people indoors. food and fetching water as legiti- According to the Democratic risk contacts and asymptomatic second city Mombasa and the negotiations of an ambitious viding basic foodstuff s to around But few have adhered to the mate reasons to leave home. Republic of Congo’s offi cial fi g- cases” for testing and treatment, coastal towns of Kilifi and Kwale. plan for the cancellation of total 20,000 of Kigali’s most vulner- new rules, prompting the gov- “Police beat anyone who leaves ures, the sprawling country has the authorities said. President Uhuru Kenyatta, African external debt”, valued at able citizens but the need is great ernment to reinforce patrols, the house without valid reason,” recorded 161 cases of coronavi- People who go to work in Go- in a TV address to the nation, $236bn. in a country of 12mn where one- rolling out its rapid intervention said Luanda resident Francisca rus, 18 of them fatal. mbe — drivers, gardeners and so stopped short of a full lockdown RWANDA MINISTERS TO third live in poverty. police force. Daniela. “I was hit yesterday,” she Almost all have occurred in the on — will be tested in their home in these areas but warned: “We FOREGO MONTH’S PAY It was not immediately clear The special police unit, which complained. “The only reason I capital, with a handful of other districts and will be quarantined must be ready to go even further Politicians and top civil serv- how much Rwanda will collect is deployed in emergency situ- am still leaving (the house) today cases in the volatile east. if they have the virus. if necessary.” ants in Rwanda will have their through the forfeited monthly ations, patrolled the seaside is because I have to buy some- The central business district, The total of known corona- The African Union said nearly salaries this month redirected to salaries of its top offi cials. capital yesterday aboard black thing for my children to eat.” home to 100,000-200,000 of virus infections in Africa as a 20mn jobs could be threatened welfare programmes to help the Rwanda imposed a strict shut- armoured vehicles. Police have arrested several Kinshasa’s 10mn people, has whole is nearly 9,300, of which if the pandemic continues, and poor cope with the economic im- down in response to the corona- “Security measures have been hundred people for defying the been dubbed “the Republic of 444 have been fatal, according to countries relying heavily on pact of the coronavirus. virus outbreak, closing all but the reinforced because the popula- restrictions since the state of Gombe” for its perceived status an AFP tally. tourism and oil production stand Prime Minister Edouard most essential shops, suspending tion has not conformed to the emergency came into eff ect on as an island of prosperity, a place Experts say that, as elsewhere, to be hit especially hard. Ngirente said the salary sacrifi ce public transport and banning all lockdown (implemented) under March 27.

Northern Mali attack Nigerian actress convicted of fl outing virus lockdown popular Nigerian ac- upscale residence on Satur- of 20mn people to educate the after she had earlier appeared in ing more awareness to eradicate tress was yesterday day. public on the consequences of adverts calling for Nigerians to this pandemic.” leaves 20 troops dead Afound guilty of breaking “The court found them guilty non-compliance with the re- observe social distancing meas- There have so far been 232 coronavirus lockdown restric- as charged,” police spokesman striction order. ures. confi rmed infections and fi ve tions in economic hub Lagos by Bala Elkana said in a statement. He said well-known singer The actress tendered an apol- deaths from the novel corona- AFP A Malian army offi cial sta- throwing a birthday party, po- The statement said the cou- Naira Marley, who also attended ogy on her Instagram page on virus in Africa’s most populous Bamako tioned in northern Mali con- lice said. ple were each sentenced to 14 the party, had been arrested and Sunday. “I am sorry if I have nation. fi rmed an attack had taken Funke Akindele, a Nol- days of community service and would soon be charged. misled you. I appreciate your The authorities have intro- place in Bamba but said there lywood film star popularly ordered to pay a fi ne of 100,000 Akindele was in addition or- concerns and I promise to al- duced a raft of restrictions to round 20 Malian sol- had been losses on both sides. known as Jenifa, was arrested naira ($260). dered to identify other guests ways practice what I preach,” curb the pandemic, including diers were killed yes- He added the army did not and pleaded guilty to hosting Elkana said they would also for possible police action. she said. a two-week total lockdown in Aterday in an apparent have a clear idea of enemy the bash for her husband and have to visit 10 “important The party sparked angry re- “I promise to always sup- major cities Lagos and Abuja to militant attack, offi cials said, losses as the raiders took their show business pals at their public places” within the city actions from Akindele’s fans port the government in creat- tame the virus. in the latest bout of violence to casualties with them when hit the war-torn West African they left. state. Another military offi cial Early yesterday morning, told AFP that reinforcements militants attacked a military had been dispatched to the base in the northern town area. of Bamba, according to a lo- The attack in Mali follows Ivorian police, protesters clash over coronavirus test centre cal government offi cial, who another in militant-ridden called the assailants “terror- northern Cameroon yesterday. ists” and said at least 20 sol- Two suicide bombers — Reuters diers had died. suspected to be members of Abidjan Another local offi cial gave Nigeria’s Boko Haram group — a similar account, explaining blew themselves up in a border that the assailants arrived on town in the Central African vory Coast police yesterday clashed motorbikes and in cars. country and and killed seven with protesters who had begun dis- “Investigations are still people. Imantling a half-built coronavirus test- ongoing on the ground be- The Mali attack comes de- ing centre, afraid that people using the fa- cause the death toll must be spite attempts to reinvigor- cility would spread the epidemic through higher than the 20 deaths an- ate the country’s political life their district. nounced,” the offi cial said. in the hope of staunching the More than 100 residents in Yopougon, a Mali has been struggling to bloodshed. neighbourhood of the commercial capital contain a militant revolt that The former French colony Abidjan, started pulling apart the hangar- fi rst broke out in the north in braved threats of violence like structure on Sunday and built barri- 2012, and has since spread to and coronavirus infection on cades out of burning tyres nearby. the centre of the country and March 29 to stage much-de- A crowd returned yesterday, throwing neighbouring Burkina Faso layed elections to parliament. rocks at police who dispersed it with tear gas. and Niger. The hope is that the new “They want to kill us. We don’t want Thousands of Malian sol- assembly will implement this centre here,” said protester Joel Blehi diers and civilians have died, reforms from a 2015 peace as he sheltered by a pharmacy after a gas despite the presence of thou- agreement brokered between canister was fi red in his direction. sands of French and UN the Bamako government and Police said the hostility arose from a troops. several armed groups. misunderstanding that patients with Cov- It was not immediately clear Implementation has been id-19 would be treated at the centre. who carried out yesterday’s painfully slow, although this “There’s been a lack of communica- attack. year saw the Malian army de- tion. It’s more like a testing centre for resi- A resident of Bamba, who ploy units made up of both dents,” police spokesman Charlemagne spoke to AFP on condition of former rebels and regulars — a Bleu said. anonymity, said armed men key provision of the deal. The violence is the fi rst sign of com- had been riding motorbikes The pact also provides for munity resistance to the coronavirus re- around nearby villages since government decentralisation, sponse in Ivory Coast, where authorities Sunday, before gathering for a demand of some of the rebel have closed schools, places of worship the dawn attack. groups. and most shops and imposed a night-time “We saw 23 bodies on the Parallel to these eff orts, the curfew. spot,” the Bamba resident said, government in Bamako has The country has registered 261 con- describing the aftermath of also said it is prepared to enter fi rmed cases and three deaths. the raid, adding that militants into talks with militant groups. The centre is one of several being built had destroyed the camp and Al-Qaeda-affi liated mili- in Abidjan for voluntary mass coronavirus stolen equipment. tants have indicated that they testing, the health ministry said. “No civilian was hurt, this are prepared to negotiate with No protesters or police were harmed in was an operation against the the government, but only if Demonstrators run away during clashes with Ivory Coast anti-riot police at a demonstration against the construction of a Covid-19 the clashes, but four arrests were made, camp,” the resident added. French and UN troops pull out. coronavirus screening centre in their neighbourhood in Yopougon, a suburb of Abidjan, yesterday. Bleu said. Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, April 7, 2020 AMERICAS With hospitals stressed, US enters ‘peak death week’

Reuters Admiral Brett Giroir, a physician results were limiting the ability New York City Mayor Bill de ner. But it will be tough for New Washington and member of the White House of hospitals to keep track of the Blasio said that a shortage of Yorkers to take.” coronavirus task force, told ABC health of staff and patients, the medical professionals was re- The pandemic was also tak- yesterday. He raised particular US Department of Health and placing a lack of equipment as ing a toll on the New York Police he United States yester- alarm for the states of New York, Human Services Offi ce of In- the city’s primary need, calling Department, which said 18.6% of day entered what an offi - New Jersey, Connecticut and the spector General said. for an additional 45,000 clinical its uniformed workforce was out Tcial called the “peak death city of Detroit. “Hospitals also described sub- personnel for April. sick on Sunday, including 5.1% week” of the coronavirus while Separately, on NBC, Giroir stantial challenges maintaining “More and more, the challenge who tested positive for the coro- a watchdog report said hospitals said: “Whether you live in small and expanding capacity to care is going to be personnel,” de Bla- navirus. were struggling to maintain and town America or you live in the for patients,” said the report, sio told reporters outside a surgi- Despite the grim warnings, at expand capacity to care for in- ‘Big Apple,’ everyone is suscep- described as a snapshot of the cal gown manufacturing facility. least one model off ered hope that fected patients. tible to this and everyone needs issues hospitals faced in mid- “We need these supplies, but the death rate was slowing. The US death toll, which to follow the precautions we’ve March. we also need heroes to wear The University of Washing- topped 10,000 yesterday, was laid out.” Eff orts were being made to ad- them.” ton model, one of several cited by rapidly closing in on Italy and More than 90% of Americans dress those issues, it said. The city has reported more US and some state offi cials, now Spain, the countries with the are under stay-at-home orders The watchdog said “inconsist- than 3,100 deaths, and it may projects US deaths at 81,766 by most fatalities to date at nearly issued by state governors while ent guidance from federal, State, resort to temporarily burying the August 4, down about 12,000 from 16,000 and about 12,500 respec- eight states still were holding out and local authorities” was con- dead in an unspecifi ed park, said Nurses at Harlem Hospital hold a rally demanding greater access to PPE a projection over the weekend. tively, according to a Reuters tally on imposing such restrictions. fusing hospitals and the public, Mark Levine, chair of the New in front of the hospital in Manhattan, New York City. The model, which is frequently of offi cial data. The report, based on a national while widespread shortages of York City Council health com- updated with new data, projects “It’s going to be the peak hos- March 23-27 survey, showed that personal protective equipment mittee. by using a NYC park for burials Levine wrote on Twitter. the peak need for hospital beds pitalisation, peak ICU week and “severe shortages” of testing put hospital staff and patients at “Soon we’ll start ‘temporary (yes you read that right). Trenches “It will be done in a dignifi ed, on April 15 and for daily deaths at unfortunately, peak death week,” supplies and long waits for test risk. interment’. This likely will be done will be dug for 10 caskets in a line,” orderly — and temporary — man- 3,130 on April 16.

Wisconsin Clash at White House over postpones today’s vote

Reuters effi cacy of malaria drug Washington

Reuters US toll top 10,000: Johns Hopkins tracker use during the coronavirus crisis. New York hospital system that come in emocratic Governor Tony Washington Trump has made his opinion on presenting symptoms of Covid-19 are Evers yesterday issued an More than 10,000 people have died countries, but the US has yet to reach the drug well known and personally given a cycle of hydroxychloroquine, Dexecutive order postpon- of coronavirus complications in the its peak of the crisis. pressed federal health offi cials to make which may help reduce infl ammation ing Wisconsin’s primary election hite House trade adviser Peter United States since the outbreak Since the middle of last week, the US them available to treat coronavirus, two caused by the immune system’s re- from today until June 9, citing Navarro yesterday acknowl- began in late January, Johns Hopkins has recorded more than 1,000 new sources have told Reuters. sponse to the virus. health risks from the coronavi- Wedged that members of the University said yesterday. deaths every day, with containment The president has repeatedly pushed A city health offi cial said yesterday rus pandemic, but Republicans task force dealing with the coronavirus The Baltimore-based school, which has measures of varying degrees being the drug as a potential treatment, call- that many patients at New York’s 11 said they would challenge it in crisis clashed over the effi cacy of the been keeping a running tally of global enforced on a state-by-state basis. ing it a “game-changer” with little evi- public hospitals have been given hy- the state Supreme Court. malaria drug, hydroxychloroquine, for coronavirus numbers, said there are at New York is the main focus of the dence to support that claim. droxycloroquine as part of treatment The late postponement came use against the disease. least 347,003 confirmed infections in American outbreak, with more than He touted it again on Sunday, adding regimen, but it was too soon to tell if it after the Republican-controlled Navarro had a heated exchange on the US with 10,335 deaths. 4,750 deaths statewide and 130,000 “But what do I know? I’m not a doctor.” was eff ective. legislature rejected Evers’ call last Saturday with Dr Anthony Fauci, direc- The world’s leading economy is one cases, more than half of them in New However, when Fauci, who is a doc- “We’re still looking at the data, but week to cancel in-person voting tor of the National Institute of Allergy of the worst-hit countries, trailing York City. tor, was asked a question about the drug right now we’re willing to try just about today and extend the time to return and Infectious Diseases, Axios reported. only Italy (15,877) and Spain (13,055) The pandemic has killed more than at the same task force briefi ng, Trump anything to save patients,” said Dr Eric absentee ballots into late May. Fauci, the nation’s top infectious dis- in numbers killed by the deadly 70,000 worldwide since the emergence cut in and blocked him from answering, Wei, vice President and chief quality of- “Absent legislative or court eases expert, and other top health ad- pandemic. of the new coronavirus in December “Do you know how many times he’s an- fi cer for NYC Health + Hospitals. action, I cannot in good con- visers have argued there is not enough The number of daily deaths is falling in in China, according to an AFP tally swered that question? Maybe 15.” Navarro argued there were now “nu- science stand by and do nothing. data from the limited studies that have some of the worst-aff ected European compiled from off icial sources. At Saturday’s meeting of the task merous scientifi c studies that indicate The bottom line is that I have an been done to prove the drug is eff ective force, Navarro told CNN, “there was potential effi cacy,” including one pub- obligation to keep people safe, against Covid-19, the deadly respiratory unanimous agreement that FEMA lished in the last few days involving and that’s why I signed this ex- illness caused by the virus. lieved the hydroxychloroquine studies The dispute illustrated the tensions would immediately begin surging hy- Wuhan, China, where the virus fi rst ecutive order today,” Evers said Navarro has been appointed by US done so far were convincing. between the White House’s scientifi c droxy into the hot zones to be dispensed surfaced, that he said was one of the in a statement. President Donald Trump to oversee the “There was that discussion on Satur- and health experts and other policy- only between a doctor and a patient de- fi rst randomised studies. Republican legislative leaders administration’s implementation of the day,” Navarro said in an interview with makers or advisers in the administra- cision not the federal government.” “All my role has been in this is to sug- said Evers did not have the au- Defense Production Act to help produce CNN. tion with no medical or research train- He said there were 29mn tablets of gest that we have this in the stockpiles thority to postpone the election. scarce medical supplies. “If we didn’t have disagreements ing, led by the president himself, who hydroxychloroquine sitting in a ware- and that you should have that discus- “The clerks of this state should While acknowledging he has no sci- and debate the Trump administration have been pushing the malaria drugs, house. sion about whether we should surge this stand ready to proceed with the entifi c background, Navarro said he be- would not be as strong as it is.” chloroquine and hydroxycloroquine, for Navarro said that patients in the in the task force,” he said. election. The governor’s execu- tive order is clearly an uncon- stitutional overreach,” Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald Drive-thru test zone said in a joint statement. Bronx zoo tiger tests positive Wisconsin residents are under orders to stay at home and pub- lic gatherings are banned to limit Reuters “Though they have experienced According to the US Depart- exposure to the coronavirus. New York some decrease in appetite, the ment of Agriculture website there Fears about infection have led cats at the Bronx Zoo are other- had “not been reports of pets to a shortage of poll workers and wise doing well under veterinary or other animals” in the United an explosion in requests for ab- tiger at New York’s Bronx Zoo care and are bright, alert, and in- States falling ill with coronavirus sentee ballots. has tested positive for Cov- teractive with their keepers,” it prior to news of Nadia. Some state offi cials had Aid-19, the institution said on said. The Bronx zoo said preventa- warned of potential chaos if the Sunday, and is believed to have con- “It is not known how this disease tive measures were in place for voting went ahead. tracted the virus from a caretaker will develop in big cats since diff er- caretakers as well as all cats in the Concerns about the corona- who was asymptomatic at the time. ent species can react diff erently to city’s zoos. virus have left nearly 60% of The four-year-old Malayan ti- novel infections, but we will con- Sarah Caddy, veterinarian and the state’s municipalities with a ger named Nadia along with her tinue to monitor them closely and clinical research fellow at the shortage of poll workers, caus- sister Azul, two Amur tigers and anticipate full recoveries.” University of Cambridge, said ing the consolidation of many three African lions all developed All four of the zoos and the that since domestic cats had been polling sites, and more than 100 dry coughs and are expected to aquarium in New York have been shown to be potentially suscepti- municipalities without staff for fully recover, the Wildlife Conser- closed since March 16. ble to the virus, the tiger becom- even one polling site. vation Society that runs the city’s The zoo emphasized that there ing infected was “not wholly un- Evers had said last week that zoos said in a statement. is “no evidence that animals play expected”. he did not have the authority to “We tested the cat out of an a role in the transmission of Cov- “However, it is surprising that move the election on his own, abundance of caution and will en- id-19 to people other than the the tiger has become infected with but his order relies on a state law sure any knowledge we gain about initial event in the Wuhan market, what must have been a fairly low that says during an emergency Medical professionals wait for patients to arrive at a drive-thru coronavirus testing site run by Covid-19 will contribute to the and no evidence that any person dose of virus — we can assume the the governor can “issue such George Washington University Hospital in Washington, DC. Yesterday was the first day the test world’s continuing understand- has been infected with Covid-19 tiger did not have continual close orders as he or she deems neces- site was open, making it the fourth location in the District of Columbia doing Covid-19 testing. ing of this novel coronavirus,” the in the US by animals, including by contact with the asymptomatic sary for the security of persons statement sent to AFP said. pet dogs or cats.” zoo keeper,” she said. Page 14 and property.”

Supreme Court turns away religious clash over Washington transit ads Farms face crop losses due to foreign worker delays he US Supreme Court yesterday declined pose an injunction blocking the advertisement to hear a religious rights dispute brought policy. Tby the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of The decision was upheld in 2019 by the US Reuters ing, though some companies are still having In the United States, “delays are poten- Washington against the Washington area transit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Winnipeg/Chicago a hard time getting workers in on time. tially very hazardous to farmers who were authority over its policy barring advertisements Circuit, which ruled that the policy did not dis- Ontario farmer Mike Chromczak said he counting on that workforce to show up at in its stations and on buses and trains on divisive criminate against religious entities. was afraid he might be unable to harvest his an exact period of time to harvest a perish- issues including religion. Archdiocese offi cials argued that the transit andatory coronavirus quarantines asparagus crop next month unless his 28 Ja- able crop,” said Dave Puglia, CEO of Western The court, usually receptive to religious rights agency’s policy violated religious and free speech of seasonal foreign workers in Can- maican workers start arriving by mid-April. Growers Association, which represents fruit claims, declined to review the Washington Met- rights guaranteed under the US Constitution’s Mada could hurt that country’s fruit “It would be well over 50% of our farm’s and vegetable companies in states like Cali- ropolitan Area Transit Authority’s 2015 policy First Amendment as well as a federal law called and vegetable output this year, and travel revenue” lost, Chromczak said. fornia and Arizona. that bars political, religious and advocacy ad- the Religious Freedom Restoration Act that pro- problems related to the pandemic could also “But I see it as a much bigger issue than He said workers in the United States do vertisements in the transportation system that tects religious rights. leave US farmers with fewer workers than me. This is a matter of food security for our not have to wait 14 days before they start serves the US capital region. The legal fi ght stemmed from the archdiocese’s usual. country.” working, although more eff orts are being One of the nine justices, conservative Brett Ka- unsuccessful attempt to buy advertisements in Foreign labour is critical to farm pro- Steve Bamford’s 35 Caribbean workers are made to space workers out on the farms. vanaugh, would not have been able to participate 2017 just before Christmas. duction in both countries, where domestic just starting to trickle in to his Ontario apple Dannia Sanchez, president of D & J and due to his prior service on a court that previously The proposed advertisement, to be placed workers shun the hard physical labour and orchards. Sons Harvesting in Florida, is awaiting ap- dealt with the case. on the side of buses, featured an image of three low pay. Then they are isolated and paid for 40 proval to bring in some 200 temporary agri- That means the Supreme Court could have shepherds and a shining star in a reference to In Canada, where farms rely on 60,000 hours per week during that period without culture workers, while blueberries in Florida turned out to be split 4-4 between its liberal and events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ as temporary foreign workers, their arrivals touching a tree. ripen and Michigan asparagus nears harvest. conservative justices, leaving the conservative described in the Bible. are delayed by initial border restrictions and Pruning work, a critical step to maximise Abad Hernandez Cruz, a Mexican farm- majority unable to ensure a victory in the case. Archdiocese offi cials did not deny that the ad- grounded fl ights. yields, is now overdue. worker harvesting onions in Georgia, said he “Because the full court is unable to hear this vertisements were of a religious nature, saying Once they arrive, the federal government “It’s an extreme cost. You don’t plan on is working 12 or more hours a day. case, it makes a poor candidate for our review,” they were intended to spread a Christian mes- requires them to be isolated for 14 days with bringing people in and not work for two “A lot of people are missing,” he said, re- conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in a sage. pay, unable to work. weeks,” Bamford said. ferring to farmworkers whose visas weren’t statement regarding the court’s action. Archdiocese lawyers argued that the transit In the United States, nearly 250,000 for- Some Canadian farmers expect to reap approved after the United States scaled If Kavanaugh had participated “our interven- agency applied the policy inconsistently, noting eign guest workers, mostly from Mexico, smaller fruit and vegetable harvests this back some consular activities in response to tion and a reversal would be warranted,” Gorsuch that the agency approved advertisements pro- help harvest fruit and vegetables each year. year if foreign labour is not available soon, coronavirus. added. moting Christmas shopping placed by commer- The State Department is processing H-2A said Scott Ross, director of farm policy at the “If the farm doesn’t produce, the city A federal judge in Washington declined to im- cial entities. visas for farm workers with reduced staff - Canadian Federation of Agriculture. doesn’t eat.” Gulf Times Tuesday, April 7, 2020 9 ASIA

Police unit Indonesia reports 218 new to guard Covid-19 virus cases; 24 doctors dead burials “The high percentage of AFP Reuters Jakarta Jakarta deaths among the number of confi rmed cases as a sign the outbreak is much larger ndonesia’s capital Jakarta has ndonesia announced its big- than offi cial data suggests launched a special police unit gest daily increase in novel in the world’s fourth most- Ito guard the burials of coro- Icoronavirus cases yesterday populous nation” navirus victims over concerns and a medical association said that scared residents could try to 24 doctors had now died after deaths among medical workers. block funerals, authorities said contracting the virus. “The death of medical work- yesterday. The rise in the death toll ers is not just a number, but an The move comes days after among doctors, which has dou- alarm for the country to fi x their angry mobs in several cities on bled since last week, followed health system in an emergency Sulawesi island and in Central criticism of a lack of protective situation,” a coalition of the Java blocked streets to prevent equipment in Indonesia. groups said in a statement on ambulances from transporting The 218 new coronavirus Saturday. victims of the deadly illness to cases took the number overall Health experts have pointed local cemeteries. in Indonesia to 2,491. The 209 to the high percentage of deaths Launched at the weekend, confi rmed deaths among people among the number of confi rmed the 120-strong Jakarta team will who have contracted the virus is cases as a sign the outbreak is watch over victims’ bodies as the highest number of fatalities much larger than offi cial data they are taken from hospitals to in Asia outside China. suggests in the world’s fourth two cemeteries in the sprawl- “The trend of (doctors dying) most-populous nation. ing city, where virus corpses are is heading for the sky,” said Halik Indonesia’s own intelligence being wrapped in plastic and Malik, a spokesman for the Indo- agency last week revealed that quickly buried. nesian Doctors Association which it expected coronavirus cases to “We’ve seen cases in other confi rmed the doctors’ deaths from peak in the next three months, cities and we don’t want such Covid-19, the respiratory disease surpassing 100,000 cases a thing to happen in Jakarta caused by the new coronavirus. by July. so that’s why we immediately “The risk of medical work- President Joko Widodo told Policemen wearing face masks at a cemetery in Jakarta yesterday, as they guard workers and family members during funerals for victims of formed the team as a preventa- ers getting infected is always a cabinet meeting yesterday the Covid-19 coronavirus. tive measure,” said Mokhamad there... but the point is medical that personal protective equip- Ngajib, head of the new unit. workers need to be protected in ment (PPE) had been distributed ers have at time faced a lack of medical staff and intensive care inces, including the eastern In recent weeks, Indonesia has Yesterday, health authori- any way,” said Malik. across Indonesia, though he said protective gear, with some doc- facilities has raised concern the provinces of Maluku and Papua, converted a former Vietnam war ties said 209 people had died A number of rights groups, regional offi cials must monitor tors forced to wear raincoats and coronavirus crisis could push lack Covid-19 facilities, Doni era refugee camp on an unin- of the virus with nearly 2,500 including Amnesty Interna- the arrival of the equipment in bring their own masks to protect Indonesia’s health system to the Monardo, the head of Indone- habited island off Sumatra, and confi rmed cases in the South- tional, have expressed con- hospitals. themselves from the virus. brink. sia’s coronavirus taskforce, told a former athletes’ village into east Asian archipelago of more cern at the high proportion of Indonesian healthcare work- A defi cit in hospital beds, At least 10 Indonesian prov- parliament yesterday. coronavirus treatment facilities. than 260mn, where testing rates have been low. More than half the offi cial deaths have been recorded with- in Jakarta, but the Indonesian Doctors’ Association has warned Hat seller turns to homemade that the coronavirus crisis is far worse than has been offi cially reported. face shields in coronavirus fi ght Jakarta’s funeral agency re- portedly said that more than 600 Reuters are healthy, then they can the tiny virus-carrying droplets people had been buried under Hanoi, Vietnam protect us”. released by infected patients. virus protection protocols since Last week, Vietnam began a In just a few days, Linh and her the start of last month, sug- 15-day social distancing cam- gang of volunteers made almost gesting the death toll could be or nearly three decades, paign to slow the spread of 1,000 face shields, she said, and much higher than the confi rmed Quach My Linh has sold the virus that has seen most distributed them to at least three fi gures. Fhats at Ba Chieu market non-essential businesses shut, nearby hospitals. In Jakarta’s two virus cem- in Vietnam’s bustling Ho Chi including Linh’s stall. Linh said she had drawn on eteries, 30 personnel – including Minh City. There have been 241 reported her experience as a hat vendor to some wearing head-to-toe pro- But following a nationwide cases of the coronavirus in Vi- line the shields with comfortable tective gear – would keep watch lockdown to curb the spread of etnam and no reported deaths, padding. over interments and cemetery the coronavirus, the 42-year- according to the health ministry. She watched media reports of entrances, while others would old vendor has turned to making Aggressive contact tracing and doctors in the United States and ensure body-fi lled ambulances plastic face shields for frontline a mass quarantine programme consulted a friend who works were not blocked, Ngajib said. medical workers instead. have helped keep that tally low. as a nurse there to perfect the Anyone blocking medical staff “I was once a patient myself When the lockdown began, design, she said. or interfering with burials could and I feel like my family owes doc- Linh assembled a group of fam- The fi nishing touch? A stick- face up to a year in jail, he added. tors a lot”, said Linh, who received ily members, friends and fellow er, with an important message “We’ll try to be persuasive hospital treatment a few years ago vendors to start making the face to Vietnam’s medical workers: at fi rst. But if they don’t stop for a blood-related illness. shields. They can be worn in ad- “Fight Covid-19 disease”. then we’ll take fi rm action and An inactive flight information board is seen yesterday at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport as “I want to make these shields dition to face masks to better “Keep believing, because we bring them to the police station,” Thailand temporarily banned all passenger flights from landing in the country to curb the outbreak of the to keep them healthy. If they protect medical workers from are always with you”. Ngajib said. coronavirus disease (Covid-19). Thailand extends ban on Bangladesh bans more than 5 incoming passenger fl ights people in mosques over virus DPA granted for that period are to be The state of emergency gives Bangkok cancelled. the prime minister sweeping The ban does not apply to state powers to introduce and enforce or military aircraft, emergency regulations. DPA/Reuters hailand’s aviation body has landings, technical landings Prime Minister Prayut Chan- Dhaka extended a ban on all in- without passengers, humani- o-cha ordered a nationwide Tcoming international pas- tarian, medical or relief fl ights, daily curfew between 10pm and senger fl ights until April 18 due to repatriation fl ights and cargo 4am (1500 to 2100 GMT), which angladesh has put restric- the coronavirus pandemic. fl ights, the announcement said. started last Friday. tions on worshippers at- The ban on international Domestic fl ights in Thailand Governors of each province Btending obligatory daily passenger fl ights to Thailand are still permitted but many air- have been given jurisdiction to prayers at more than 250,000 is extended from April 6 to lines have suspended operations. introduce measures to curb the mosques nationwide as the April 18, the Civil Aviation Au- Offi cials have advised trav- spread of the virus. number of novel coronavirus cases thority of Thailand said in an ellers to contact their airlines Bangkok and other major has surged, offi cials said yesterday. announcement yesterday. about fl ights and travel plans as provinces have closed most pub- “No more than fi ve persons at Thailand has reported 2,220 many Thai provinces have also lic places, such as schools, malls a time will be allowed to attend cases of the novel coronavirus, closed their borders. and bars. the congregations for the daily with 51 deaths, according to the Thailand has been under a Supermarkets and conven- prayers,” the Religious Aff airs Public Health Ministry’s fi gures state of emergency since March ience stores remain open, while Ministry said in an order. yesterday. 26 and is to last at least until restaurants are only allowed to Only the imam, muezzin – who It said all fl ight permits April 30. off er takeaway and deliveries. summons to prayer fi ve times a day – and other mosque offi cials will be allowed to say their prayers Overcrowded Thai pet shelter blames coronavirus for drop in donations inside the mosque, it added. A maximum of 10 people can Bangladeshi police check a vehicle entering Dhaka at a roadblock during government imposed shutdown Cramped tooth and claw in vast recent visit to one of its sites in as we do,” she says, and declined attend Friday prayers, which as a preventative measure against the Covid-19 coronavirus, in Dhaka yesterday. cages, hundreds of pets pass the Pathumthani province, about 50km to elaborate on what plans her usually draw bigger crowds, the day sleeping, fighting, or waiting (30 miles) from central Bangkok. organisation has if they were to order said, asking people to say 26, has reported 123 Covid-19 hind only China as a supplier of 14, workers said their owners to be fed at a controversial Thai Hundreds of dogs are packed into completely run out of food. their prayers at home instead. cases with 12 deaths. clothes to Western countries, asked them to return by April 5. shelter that does not believe in humid rooms behind a rusted fence, A non-profit based in Phuket said Many residents have been Among them, 35 fi ve cases of relies on the garment industry “When they reached the fac- adoptions and blames a drop in where playful fights and territorial the conditions at Aunt Ju’s were posting questions on social me- infections and three deaths were for more than 80% of its ex- tories this morning, most of the donations on the coronavirus. clashes occur as the shelter’s “ridiculously overcrowded” and dia as to why Bangladesh, with a reported in the last 24 hours end- ports, with some 4,000 factories workers were told that they were Launched in 2013, “Aunt Ju’s employees attempt to clean the questioned how hygienic the site population of more than 160mn ed yesterday morning. employing about 4mn people, laid off or that the factory would Shelter for Stray Dogs” has long concrete floors with a hose. can be with so many dogs crammed and over 90% Muslim, was al- On Sunday, thousands of gar- mostly women. resume after the shutdown,” said relied on donors to feed more Some suff er from gashes and are into a single, indoor room. lowing praying in large groups ment workers were ordered home Many top Western fashion Khadiza Akter, vice president of than 2,000 stray canines and 300 kept in small cages, where the staff “If you don’t believe in an when many other Islamic states voicing concerns about loss of brands manufacture clothing the union Sommilito Garments cats living under their care. redress their wounds with gauze. adoption programme... then had banned it due to the novel income after arriving at work to in Bangladesh but cancella- Sramik Federation. But there has been a massive The dogs go through more than that’s just hoarding,” said Soi Dog coronavirus pandemic. fi nd factories shut after the can- tions were increasing daily amid Garment worker unions are decrease in donations in recent 60 bags of food daily, costing Foundation’s operations director Soon after the order was is- cellation of Western orders due coronavirus-driven lockdowns calling on the government, buy- months, and they have taken to between 20-30,000 baht a day Sam McElroy. sued, many mosques in Dhaka to the coronavirus pandemic. globally. ers, or factory owners to pay Facebook to appeal to animal ($600-$910), Yutima says, but The foundation – which found were heard telling people through Although offi cial numbers were The workers went to factories workers who will struggle to feed lovers with photos of dogs in current donations only gets them homes for more than 900 public announcement systems not available, labour leaders said in Dhaka hoping to get paid for themselves and their families their crowded facilities. 30 bags a week. animals last year – is itself in not to turn up at mosques and the majority of the workers they March and resume work after with no income. “It may be... due to the Covid-19 She defended her shelter’s policy “uncharted waters”, says McElroy, off er prayers at home instead. had spoken to had either been a 10-day break enforced by the Bangladesh’s Ministry of La- outbreak that has made people of refusing to adopt them out. due to the province-wide The South Asian country, temporarily laid off or sent on government to tackle the spread bour and Employment has asked donate less,” caretaker Yutima “We cannot be certain that (the lockdown to curb the spread of which put general restrictions leave. A smaller section of work- of the coronavirus. garment factory owners not to Preechasuchart said, during a owners) will love them as much the virus. (AFP) on non-essential offi ces, public ers complained of being sacked. Although the government later sack workers and pay them full transport and schools on March Bangladesh, which ranks be- extended the shutdown to April salaries for March by April 12. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, April 7, 2020 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

China sees rise in asymptomatic virus cases, overall rate drops

Reuters the day before. Imported cases matic cases. A total of 705 peo- residential compounds due to tional arrivals for the corona- and governments, including the tion was reported in the lat- Beijing and asymptomatic patients, who ple with asymptomatic cases the emergence of asymptomatic virus from April 1, a customs Chinese government, cut inter- est China data, in the southern show no symptoms but can still were under medical observation cases and other unspecified department offi cial said. Of the national fl ights. Charter fl ights province of Guangdong, down pass the virus to others, have around mainland China. The reasons, according to a report new cases showing symptoms, are being arranged to bring home from fi ve a day earlier in the ainland China reported become China’s chief concern surge in asymptomatic cases, by the official Xinhua news 38 were people who had entered Chinese students studying in same province. 39 new coronavirus after draconian containment which China only began report- agency. China from abroad, compared the United States, starting with Guangdong’s health commis- Mcases as of Sunday, up measures succeeded in slashing ing last week, poses a worry as “Epidemic-free” status al- with 25 a day earlier. Of those, 20 the youngest. sion raised the risk level for a total from 30 a day earlier, and the the overall infection rate. Hubei’s capital Wuhan prepares lows people living in Wuhan had arrived in the northeastern Writing in the New York of four districts in Guangzhou, number of asymptomatic cases “The risk of imported cases to allow people to leave the city compounds to leave their homes province of Heilongjiang from Times yesterday, China’s am- Shenzhen and Jieyang from low also surged, as the government from our neighbouring coun- on April 8 for the fi rst time since for two hours at a time. China neighbouring Russia. All were bassador to the United States, to medium late on Sunday. In struggled to stamp out the out- tries keeps rising,” NHC spokes- it was locked down in late Janu- has reported a total of 81,708 Chinese citizens who had fl own Cui Tiankai, noted there had Beijing, Tongren Hospital doctor break despite drastic contain- man Mi Feng told a news confer- ary. cases, with 3,331 deaths. China from Moscow to Vladivostok and been “unpleasant talk” between Wang Chengshuo noted April ment eff orts. ence, adding that China needed Hubei began easing travel has closed its borders to foreign- travelled to China by road. the two countries about the vi- and early May brought the an- The National Health Com- to keep alert and prevent a re- curbs late last month, part of a ers as the virus spreads globally, Another possible source of rus. “But this is not the time for nual catkin phenomenon - when mission (NHC) said yesterday surgence of the epidemic. Hubei wider eff ort to get the economy though most imported cases infection are the 1.6mn Chinese fi nger-pointing. This is a time waves of white balls of tree fl uff that 78 new asymptomatic cases province, the original epicentre back on track. have involved Chinese nationals citizens who study overseas, for solidarity, collaboration and fl oat through the air - but said had been identifi ed as of the end of the outbreak, accounted for Wuhan officials revoked the returning from overseas. many of whom have struggled mutual support,” Cui wrote. One there is no evidence catkins can of Sunday, compared with 47 almost half the new asympto- “epidemic-free” status of 45 It began testing all interna- to return home since airlines new locally transmitted infec- carry the virus. S Korea wins WHO accolades for fewer Covid-19 infections

Reuter Death toll rises by 8 to 191; total confirmed cases 10,284; Seoul government extended intensive social distancing; more outh Korea reported fewer people break out isolation under spring weather than 50 new coronavirus A shopkeeper delivers food at a drive-thru sashimi corner while maintaining social distancing amid the Scases for the fi rst time since mass testing and contact tracing hospitals and nursing homes, as for those who violate self-quar- coronavirus outbreak in Seoul, South Korea. its peak in late February, earning helped contain the virus, which well as among travellers return- antine rules to up to 10mn won the praise of the World Health has spread far more quickly in ing from abroad. “We are taking ($8,100) in fi nes or one year in Organisation for combating the other countries. The head of great caution against any op- prison from 3mn won ($2,400) in spread in one of the fi rst coun- the World Health Organisation timistic expectations with this fi nes. Authorities have reported tries to be hard-hit by the dis- (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghe- one-off fi gure,” Vice Health Min- several cases of quarantine rules ease. breyesus, held a 25-minute phone ister Kim Gang-lip told a regular being broken over the past few The Korea Centers for Disease call with President Moon Jae-in, briefi ng. On Saturday, the gov- days. The Gunpo city govern- Control and Prevention (KCDC) praising South Korea’s leadership ernment extended its intensive ment south of Seoul said on Sun- said there were 47 new infec- in containing the virus, Moon’s social distancing campaign by day it has fi led a complaint with tions as of midnight on Sunday presidential Blue House said. two weeks, citing the sustained police against a couple in their compared with 81 recorded a day Moon said in the call that small clusters of infections. 50s and their children who broke earlier, taking the national tally South Korea was “willing to ac- South Koreans had refrained away from isolation and went out to 10,284. tively support other countries from socialising in February even after testing positive for the The death toll rose by eight with prevention skills and sup- when the number of cases rose virus. to 191, while another 135 people plies as the circumstances per- exponentially but more people A Korean student living in the have recovered from the virus mit”. Moon said he recently had started going out recently as the United States sparked public for a total of 6,598. South Korea phone calls with about 20 global weather became warmer and uproar after taking a fever rem- has been bringing the epidemic leaders. Tedros proposed that people became weary of the iso- edy before fl ying home late last under control, with about 100 Moon help support sub-Saharan lation, Kim said. The movement month. The student was found or fewer new daily cases for the African countries with virus-re- of people spiked about 20% over to have contracted the virus, past month, but this was the fi rst lated supplies including test kits, the weekend compared with the putting some 20 other people time the daily tally of new cases the Blue House said. end of February, he said, citing who took the same fl ight in self was less than 50 since 909 were Despite the encouraging evi- data from the state-run statis- quarantine. reported on Feb 29. dence in South Korea, offi cials tics agency and SK Telecom, the “We cannot maintain social In February, South Korea un- have urged even greater vigilance, country’s largest mobile opera- distancing forever,” Kim said. covered what was believed to saying a large epidemic could re- tor. “But it is the most eff ective be the biggest outbreak outside emerge at any time, with smaller Starting on Sunday, the gov- measure to help protect others of China. But a programme of outbreaks appearing in churches, ernment toughened penalties and yourself.” A woman wearing a protective mask is seen at a fish market in Seoul, South Korea.

Virus-hit Carnival cruise ship docks in Australia Japan prepares for state

Reuters led by the homicide squad in the world negotiating arrangements Australia has more than 5,700 Sydney state of New South Wales (NSW), with cruise ships unable to fi nd confirmed Covid-19 cases and of emergency over virus has more than 1,000 crew still on somewhere to dock. its death toll rose to 39 yester- board, after passengers disem- NSW Police said in a state- day after four additional deaths arnival Corp’s troubled barked in mid-March without ment that the vessel may re- were recorded overnight. Ruby Princess cruise health checks. main in place for up to 10 days, An investigation into Ruby AFP Cliner, the biggest single There have been at least 360 but the crew will not disembark Princess protocols will focus on Tokyo source of coronavirus infections Covid-19 cases, including pas- unless approved by state au- communications and actions in Australia, docked south of sengers and staff , associated with thorities. that led to the docking and dis- Sydney yesterday to get help for the vessel, which includes at Sick crew members were being embarking of the ship’s 2,700 apan’s government began sick crew members requiring ur- least six deaths. treated on board or transferred to passengers on March 19 at Syd- preparing yesterday for gent medical treatment. As a popular Pacifi c port des- hospital, police said, and the ves- ney Harbour to see whether Jthe declaration of a state of The Ruby Princess, now the tination, Australia is among nu- sel will be refuelled in prepara- biosecurity laws or state laws emergency over the outbreak of target of a criminal investigation merous countries around the tion for departure. were broken, authorities said. the new coronavirus, as infec- tions spike in the capital Tokyo and elsewhere. NZ to stick with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was expected to meet late yes- curbs despite Beach warning terday with a panel of experts improvement advising the government on the global pandemic, with wide- New Zealand will stick to its spread reports that he would tough curbs to combat the announce a state of emergency A woman wearing a face mask, amid concerns of the coronavirus coronavirus, despite some early as soon as Tuesday. outbreak, uses her phone on a street in Tokyo yesterday. signs the spread of the illness has The move comes as infec- been stabilising, Prime Minister tions grow steadily - though seen elsewhere in the world. sor of international politics at Jacinda Ardern said yesterday. in far smaller numbers than in It will allow governors of ar- the University of Tokyo. The country’s 67 new infections Europe or the United States. eas aff ected to ask, but not or- But he said if the relatively were the lowest in five days, Tokyo announced a record 148 der, residents to stay home, and relaxed measures proved insuf- taking its tally to just over 1,100. new cases on Sunday, and pres- call on businesses that attract fi cient to curb the spread of the New Zealand has reported one sure has increased on the gov- crowds to shut their doors. virus, “calls for a stronger pow- death. ernment to take fresh action. It allows the commandeering er to control people may grow”. “Our actions for the remainder Tokyo’s Governor Yuriko Koike of land and buildings for medi- “This case could be a touch- of the period in level four will has already urged residents of cal purposes. But there is no stone,” he said. be about doubling down to the capital to avoid non-essen- legal power to enforce requests Japan has so far been spared ensure the gains made in the first tial outings on weekends and for people to stay inside, and the sort of crisis seen in parts of half are not squandered in the to work from home during the no punishments mandated for Europe and the United States, second,” Ardern told reporters week. those who fail to do so. with around 3,650 cases across in Wellington. Level-four curbs “We’ve not received any- Public transport will con- the country - compared to allow people to take walks or go thing formal but we are prepar- tinue to run, though reports around 330,000 in the US and to supermarkets for essentials, ing various things assuming To- yesterday said Tokyo might ask around 130,000 in Italy and but they are required to stay 2m kyo will be designated,” she told train operators to reduce serv- Spain. It recorded its fi rst in- (7ft) apart. reporters yesterday, when asked ices by up to 50%, and super- fection in mid-January, and Abe “I don’t want New Zealand to be about a possible declaration. markets, banks and hospitals stunned the country by calling at level four for a minute longer Koike was expected to outline will remain open. for nationwide school closures than needed, but equally there is how the declaration would af- Experts say Japan’s legal sys- in February - far earlier than in no plan to move from level four fect the capital at a press con- tem restricts the government’s many countries. early,” Ardern added. ference later yesterday. ability to limit the move- In recent days Tokyo’s streets New Zealand started a four-week The declaration will reported- ment of citizens. “Japan is still have been noticeably quieter as total lockdown of its population People keep social distance at Manly Beach following the implementation of stricter social- ly only cover parts of the country haunted by the negative legacy residents heeded the request of about 5mn late in March, and distancing and self-isolation rules to limit the spread of the coronavirus disease, in the Manly where infections are increas- of the war and the oppression to stay home. Many businesses declared a national emergency to suburb of Sydney, Australia, yesterday. ing rapidly, and falls far short of of its citizens,” said Yoshinobu have already announced volun- slow the spread of the virus. the strict lockdown measures Yamamoto, an emeritus profes- tary, temporary closures. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 7, 2020 11 BRITAIN Ministers ‘seeking to smear civil servants’ over virus handling

Guardian News and Media lic Health England (PHE) execu- grip of government, PHE offi cials ing and the supply of PPE and events unfold, many of these ques- for failing to control government banning Coco Pops or something London tives show that “some within the had not placed enough empha- ventilators, finding someone tions will inevitably be for another departments. “He’s more present but for the most part entirely out government are still putting self- sis on testing and NHS England to blame rather than fixing the day. Right now, we need ministers now but there is a bit of a mystery of sight.” preservation fi rst”, according to the offi cials had failed to control problem seems to be the prior- and their advisers focusing on sav- about where he was in the early In a following article, a “senior inisters have been ac- head of the senior civil servants’ personal protective equipment ity for some at the heart of gov- ing lives, not their careers. days of all this,” the source was fi gure” told the Sunday Times that cused of focusing on union. (PPE) supply. ernment,” said Penman. “Well- “While public servants across quoted as saying. NHS England was being blamed Msaving their careers in- It comes amid concern across In an article for the Guardian, placed anonymous sources the UK are working night and The same article claimed that by ministers for failing to get a stead of the lives of coronavirus Whitehall that cabinet minis- Dave Penman, the general secre- have started pointing fingers at day – literally putting their lives ministers were blaming PHE offi - grip on PPE supply. victims by authorising “cowardly ters and their special advisers are tary of the FDA union, which rep- everyone from the cabinet sec- on the line for the country – cials for an infl exible attitude and Civil servants have also been an- and shameful” anonymous brief- mounting a concerted eff ort to resents the UK’s most senior public retary, Mark Sedwill, to Public some within government are still insensitivity to public pressure for gered this weekend by claims that ings against some of the UK’s pass the blame for the UK’s falter- servants, said some in government Health England. putting self-preservation fi rst. It answers. “What this has exposed the prime minister is “extremely most senior public offi cials. ing response to the pandemic on to were ignoring the dedication of “If mistakes have been made, is not only cowardly and shame- is these people’s utter lack of ac- unlikely” to sack the Home Secre- Smears by unnamed Downing offi cials. public servants and instead using ministers and civil servants will ful, it’s also destructive.” countability,” a senior offi cial told tary, Priti Patel, even if she is found Street sources against Sir Mark Government sources were them as scapegoats. rightly be held accountable … A Times article on Saturday the newspaper. “It’s not just PHE, to have bullied civil servants across Sedwill, the cabinet secretary and quoted this weekend claiming “As pressure mounts over the While ministers and offi cials must quoted an ally of Johnson saying it’s a whole world of these bodies three separate government de- head of the civil service, and Pub- that Sedwill had failed to get a capacity for coronavirus test- be scrutinised for their decisions as that Sedwill was under scrutiny that bumble along, occasionally partments. Hospital ‘forced to consider who should be refused oxygen’

Guardian News and Media tient safety notice. London It highlighted the dramatic re- cent increase in hospitals’ use of ventilators and in particular CPAP xygen supplies at a Hert- machines, which dispense venti- fordshire hospital inun- lation through a face mask. Odated with coronavirus The pressure on Watford gen- patients became so precarious last eral’s oxygen system was not un- week that offi cials considered how expected, according to documents to decide who should receive the seen by the Guardian. gas and who should miss out and Last week, healthcare planners likely die, the Guardian under- in the area said they pleaded with stands. the government and the NHS to Medical staff at St Thomas’ Hospital relax during a break in London as the spread of the coronavirus disease continues. The oxygen system at Watford urgently approve works to the hos- general hospital came close to pital’s oxygen system and warned breaking point on Saturday, when NHS England on Wednesday that a critical incident was declared the situation was critical. and staff had to tell the public not However, NHS England said to come to the hospital. that it had alerted trusts, including Some patients were moved out West Hertfordshire, to the need to to prevent the vital system failing. prepare their oxygen systems in Last week, health planners in February when the threat of the Govt to implement plan Hertfordshire, where more than coronavirus epidemic was loom- 800 cases of coronavirus have ing. been recorded, became so con- “All trusts were written to by cerned about oxygen supplies NHS England in February remind- they alerted the military that they ing them to carry out engineering might need help. checks on ventilation equipment, The area has been under huge and were further issued with guid- to ‘defeat coronavirus’ pressure from the Covid-19 pan- ance on how to use the kit safely, demic, with mortuary space fi ll- on April 1,” a spokesperson said. Agencies tional Health Service) staff up country through the coronavirus said at a news conference when develop solutions for coronavi- ing up and plans being made to Works to overhaul Watford gen- London and down the country for all of challenge that we face right now.” asked about the government’s ruses, including Sars-CoV-2, the increase capacity four-fold. eral’s oxygen supply system had their dedication, hard work and More than 5,000 people who lockdown exit strategy. virus that causes Covid-19,” said As of 5pm Thursday, 29 people been planned before the outbreak, commitment in treating every- tested positive for coronavirus England’s Chief Medical Of- a statement. had died at West Hertfordshire but were put on hold. ritain’s foreign minister one who’s been aff ected by this have now died in Britain, offi cial fi cer Chris Whitty said the gov- GSK will invest $250mn into Hospitals NHS trust hospitals Local planners felt their at- Dominic Raab yesterday awful virus.” fi gures showed yesterday, with a ernment needed to be confi dent Vir to help “identify new anti- after being diagnosed with Cov- tempts to get them urgently re- Bsaid the government would When asked how worried latest daily toll of 439. the country had reached the peak viral antibodies that could be id-19. started were frustrated by com- carry on Boris Johnson’s corona- should people be about Johnson’s “As of 5pm on 5 April, of those of the outbreak before discuss- used as therapeutic or preventa- The trust is responsible for munication diffi culties in the virus plan, after the prime minis- health and about who’s in charge hospitalised in the UK who tested ing the next steps and it did not tive options to help address the Watford general as well as Hemel central government, the docu- ter was taken into intensive care of the government, Raab: “Well positive for coronavirus 5,373 know for certain that would be at current Covid-19 pandemic and Hempstead and St Albans City ments show. with Covid-19. the government’s business will have died,” the health ministry the end of this week. future outbreaks”, it added. hospitals. On Friday, the day before the “The focus of the government continue and the prime minister said in a tweet. British pharmaceutical group Vir Biotechnology chief ex- A senior clinician said: “They critical incident was declared, will be making sure the prime is in safe hands with that brilliant Meanwhile, the government’s GlaxoSmithKline has teamed up ecutive George Scangos said “it is were (consulting) the hospital eth- the planners considered making minister’s directions, all the team at St Thomas’ hospital, and deputy chief scientifi c adviser with US peer Vir Biotechnology likely that the current coronavi- ics committee every day and con- a military aid request and began a plans for making sure that we can the focus of the government will Angela McLean said yesterday to fi nd antibodies to help fi ght rus outbreak will not be the last”. sidering who they were not going process that could allow the armed defeat coronavirus will be taken continue to be on making sure Britain needs to know how well Covid-19 and “likely” future Elsewhere yesterday, Babcock to oxygenate and ventilate if they forces to step in and help. forward,” he said. that the prime minister’s direc- its current lockdown measures outbreaks, the pair announced said it had been handed a govern- needed it, and making decisions “On March 30, the multi- In a televised interview Raab tion, all the plans for making sure are working in tackling the coro- yesterday. ment contract to manufacture about who would be triaged to not agency group in Hertfordshire said: that we can defeat coronavirus navirus outbreak before it can It comes as UK defence en- 10,000 Zephyr Plus ventilators, have oxygen and die.” asked the government to get the “In light of the circumstances, and can pull the country through discuss what happens next. gineering group Babcock said in collaboration with an un- The decision to announce a crit- works moving as they had been the prime minister asked me as this challenge will be taken for- The current lockdown meas- it was collaborating to make named major international sup- ical incident on Saturday meant no planned for some time, and they fi rst secretary to deputise for him ward. ures are due to be reviewed in one 10,000 ventilators, which are in plier of critical care ventilators. one had to go without oxygen, the noted how urgent they were, but where necessary in driving for- “There’s an incredibly strong week’s time. short supply across the country “Across many parts of Eu- trust said. nothing happened,” the senior ward the government’s plans to team spirit behind the prime “We need to know how well that has seen more than 5,000 rope, as well as Australia and the Oxygen therapy is key to the clinician said. “There was no re- defeat coronavirus. minister, and making sure that the current restrictions are deaths from coronavirus. UK, our aerial emergency medi- successful treatment of advanced sponse. On April 1, the trust re- “And, as you’ll know he’s we get all of the plans that the working before we can say any- “GlaxoSmithKline plc and cal services teams are playing a cases of Covid-19, and last Tues- ported that they were at max ca- been receiving excellent care at prime minister’s instructed us to thing sensible about what the Vir Biotechnology, Inc today courageous role helping govern- day NHS England warned hospi- pacity for oxygen and we raised St Thomas’ hospital, and we’d deliver, to get them implemented next stage might be,” McLean, announced they have signed a ments and health services fi ght tals across the country about the the issue with NHS England and like to take this opportunity as a as soon as possible. And that’s who is also Chief Scientifi c Ad- binding agreement to enter into the spread of Covid-19,” it added risk to supplies in an urgent pa- got nowhere.” government to thank NHS (Na- the way we will bring the whole viser for the Ministry of Defence, a collaboration to research and in a statement. 20 phone masts vandalised Call to turn planes into over false 5G virus claims intensive care wards Reuters Nick Dyne, Jonathan Sackier, London visiting professor of surgery at Oxford University’s Nuffi eld de- Guardian News and Media infrastructure, sometimes fi lm- common with previous genera- partment of surgical sciences and London ing the encounters to share on tions of the telecoms technology. irlines, airports and regula- others on the plan. social media. However, the rapid explosion tors have given their back- The group is also talking to the Mobile operators and home over the last week of claims link- Aing to a plan to turn large US government, Canada, Ger- t least 20 mobile phone broadband providers estimate ing the new telephone standard passenger aircraft into intensive many and Malaysia about the masts across the UK are there have been at least 30 such to the pandemic – fanned by care wards during the coronavi- idea, Dyne said. UK airlines with Abelieved to have been incidents in the last week. some celebrities and infl uencers rus pandemic, a UK-based group parked-up widebody jets support torched or otherwise vandalised Engineers for O2 have been is- – has caught the industry and the working on the idea said yesterday. the idea, said Dyne without nam- since Thursday, according to sued with signs to display in their government off guard. The group, calling themselves ing them, although they are be- government and industry sourc- vans while working. While many long-running Caircraft, believe that big aircraft lieved to include British Airways es who are increasingly con- The signs, which read “Key Facebook groups have opposed like A380s and A340s, which are and Virgin Atlantic, as well as a cerned about the impact of base- worker, keeping your network the rollout of 5G technology, in grounded due to coronavirus trav- number of UK airports and the UK less theories linking coronavirus running”, are intended to spread the last week the social network el restrictions, could be stripped aviation regulator, the CAA. to 5G networks. the message that communica- has had to delete multiple pages down and refi tted with ICU beds Britain is bracing for the epi- There have been notice- tions workers are playing a cru- encouraging vandalism of the and equipment in seven to ten demic to peak in the coming able clusters of attacks on masts cial role during the current crisis. phone network. days. weeks, and is building fi eld hos- around Liverpool and the West Social networks will meet The number of attacks rose Between 100-150 beds could fi t pitals in London, Birmingham, Midlands. the government in the coming rapidly following a suspected ar- on each aircraft depending on the Manchester and Cardiff to bol- Owing to the slow rollout of days to explain what they can son attack on a mast in Birming- size of the jet under the group’s ster its state-run National Health 5G in the UK, many of the masts do to stop the spread of baseless ham on Thursday night. design plans, and it is now waiting Service (NHS). that have been vandalised did not claims about 5G, although there Vodafone confi rmed that for government support for fund- Under the Caircraft plans, contain the technology and the is a limited amount that can be six sites were targeted over the ing and co-ordination. “We’ve which the group has been working attacks merely damaged 3G and done to stop videos and messages weekend, and other networks had various conversations at vari- on for a week, the aircraft would 4G equipment. spreading on messaging services suggested they had seen similar ous levels. And we absolutely ap- fi rst fl y to the place where they There is hope that the rate of such as WhatsApp. numbers. preciate how busy they are with were to be needed, before being attacks may now be slowing. Despite repeated assurances MobileUK, the industry everything else going on,” avia- fi tted out. Network operators are partic- from international radiation group that unites the UK’s four tion economist Chris Tarry said of They would not move once ularly concerned about the safety watchdogs that 5G is safe, base- main mobile networks, pub- contact with government. treating patients. “What we don’t of their staff , as members of the less theories about its purported lished an open letter to custom- “It’s a question of reaching the want to do is to be a fl ying hospital. public have confronted telecoms risks have long bubbled away at ers asking for help to stop the right desks at the right time.” The regulatory issues regarding engineers maintaining critical the fringes of the internet – in vandalism. A telecommunications mast damaged by fire is seen in Sparkhill. Tarry has joined entrepreneur that are just too great,” said Dyne. Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, April 7, 2020 EUROPE

As infections balloon, virus Spain death pace slows, squeezes all armed forces

Reuters but agony continues Paris/Berlin Reuters Covid-19 disease and health workers, Madrid so as to fi nd carriers who may have no ilitary forces across Europe have symptoms or only very mild ones. scaled back operations and im- “We are in a new phase of the pan- Mposed stricter rules on personnel he pace of new coronavirus demic, where a reactivation of certain to try to stem the spread of the coronavi- deaths in Spain slowed yester- activities and sectors is possible but rus among staff who often live and work in Tday for the fourth day but over- doesn’t imply we are relaxing our at- close quarters, making them more vulner- crowded crematoria in Barcelona and titude...We are studying the terms of able to infection. the death of soccer coach Pep Guar- this transition,” said Transport Min- Preventing the virus’ proliferation among diola’s mother showed the national ister Jose Luis Abalos. the military is important both for national agony was far from over. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez security and because specialist army, navy Spain has the second highest death said at the weekend the lockdown and air force units are being drafted in to toll in the world after Italy, but data would remain in place until April help governments tackle the virus in many gave some cause for hope that the 26, but he opened the door to easing countries. worst may be passing. some restrictions, such as keeping all Germany mobilised 15,000 soldiers to Yesterday, the country reported non-essential workers at home, after help local authorities tackle the crisis, for 637 fatalities in the previous 24 hours Easter. example, while Poland activated thousands — a 5% increase in total and less than Spanish companies and house- of troops to patrol streets under lockdown, half the pace recorded a week earlier. holds have taken up nearly all of the disinfect hospitals and support border con- “The pandemic’s growth rate is fi rst 20bn euro ($22bn) tranche of trol, its defence ministry said. slowing down in almost every re- state-backed credit aimed at allevi- Events aboard the US aircraft carrier gion,” Maria Jose Sierra, deputy head ating the economic fallout from the Theodore Roosevelt have highlighted the of Spain’s health emergency commit- coronavirus pandemic, bankers said risk of the disease spreading rapidly among tee, told a virtual news conference. yesterday. personnel. Exhausted but less overwhelmed Yesterday’s data showed Spain’s The nuclear-powered vessel with 5,000 than a few days ago, some doctors total cases up to 135,032, the highest crew is now docked in Guam, a US territory, echoed that relief. in Europe and second in the world af- so everyone can be tested. “We have noticed a decline in the ter the United States. In France, Italy and Spain, among the na- number of people coming to the hos- Surrounded by piles of new cof- tions hardest hit by the outbreak, military pital emergency ward,” Christian fi ns ready for shipment and her face operations have been curtailed or in some Vigil, a doctor at Madrid’s October 12 covered with a mask, Maria Chao cases suspended. Hospital, told Reuters. A municipal worker wearing protective gear sprays disinfectants in the street of Toulouse, southern France. told Reuters her Ataudes Chao cof- Germany has changed rules, with no However, the number of deaths was fi n-making fi rm near Madrid had roll-calls or mustering of troops and the still traumatic. Barcelona’s city gov- the latest to die, his current club “We must keep up the fi ght because me why we can’t go out to watch the increased supplies by up to 10 times quarantining of some staff , while Turkish ernment said cremation services were Manchester City said. this new stage is going to take as much #Easter processions. That it’s not during the crisis. armed forces have imposed social distanc- overwhelmed and some corpses would The government will increase the social discpline and solidarity as the fair. That she wants to see them. And In a positive sign, checkpoints were ing in mess rooms and dormitories, among have to be temporarily buried and put number of road controls to more one before,” he said. that she’s sick of the #coronavirus,” lifted in Igualada and three other other measures. on a waiting list for up to two years. than 500 next weekend, when people Many Spaniards were becoming tweeted one mother. hard-hit towns in the northeastern On Sunday, Turkey said it was limiting In the same area, the 82-year- usually travel during the Easter holi- frustrated at the strict lockdown they Offi cials said for restrictions to be Catalonia region, where there have troop movements in Syria as cases of the old mother of the hugely successful days, said Interior Minister Fernando have been under since mid-March. lifted, testing had to be widened be- been more than 100 deaths, the health coronavirus jumped. Spanish coach Guardiola was among Grande-Marlaska. “My four-year-old daughter asks yond those suspected of having the ministry said. “We have had to cancel non-essential maritime missions and deployments, or modify their scope,” said French army com- mand spokesman Colonel Frederic Barbry, adding that there had as yet been no impact on “operational capability”. Ukraine govt denies Italian regions testing French naval vessels in the Straits of Hormuz are no longer stopping at regional ports apart from Abu Dhabi, and air op- radioactive spike from erations have been aff ected, with exercises cancelled and delays in relieving aircraft in for signs of immunity some theatres, Barbry said. Chernobyl forest fi re In France, 600 military personnel have contracted the virus, the defence minister said on Friday, while four soldiers serving AFP Chernobyl exclusion zone By Riccardo Bastaniello, Reuters with the Barkhane operation against Islam- Kyiv also reported that normal Padua ist militants in West Africa are also infected. levels of gamma radiation Greek prodigy pens “There will be an impact from this cri- “were not exceeded” in the sis, not only in the resources available for krainian government area of the fi re. uthorities in northern Italy have defence and security but in how those re- agencies yesterday Later yesterday, Firsov begun testing health workers for sources are distributed,” said Malcolm Udenied an offi cial’s himself withdrew his claim, Aantibodies that may help identify Isolation Waltz Chalmers, deputy-director of the Royal claim that a forest fi re in the writing on Facebook that individuals with immunity to the coro- United Services Institute, a think-tank. Chernobyl exclusion zone manmade radionuclides were navirus as they look for ways to ease the Hunker down at home a bit longer is the turning to play the wistful, hypnotic Testing of military personnel is critical, caused a spike in radiation not detected at the site of the lockdown imposed a month ago to con- message a Greek pianist has sent to a melody. but it is unclear how widespread it is. levels. fi re. tain the epidemic. world in coronavirus lockdown with his The clip has had more than 42,000 hits. Britain and Turkey declined to say how Firefi ghters are still bat- He added that the fi re in The northeastern region of Veneto, latest composition, the Isolation Waltz — He has also composed two piano many military personnel had been tested tling a blaze that broke out the exclusion zone did not af- which saw one of Italy’s earliest out- and he’s just seven years old. concertos, Veronika and Anastasia, or had contracted Covid-19, the disease the at the weekend in the wood- fect the radiation situation in breaks of the disease in February, yester- Stelios Kerasidis first performed in public named after his sisters. coronavirus causes. ed zone around the ruined Kiev and the suburbs, refut- day started blood tests on health workers, at the age of three, and has played in “Music is my entire world,” he told The Italian defence ministry would only Chernobyl reactor that ex- ing his earlier statement. following neighbouring Emilia Romagna, New York’s Carnegie Hall and the Royal Reuters last year, his fingers dancing give information on offi cers, saying Chief ploded in 1986 in the world’s Police said the blaze broke which began testing last week. Albert Hall in London. over the keys, his feet barely touching of Staff Salvatore Farina and a dozen others worst nuclear accident. out after a man set fi re to “I can announce that the blood tests on “Hi guys! I’m Stelios, I’m at home too. the ground as he sat on the stool. had tested positive. On Sunday, Yegor Firsov, dry grass near the Cherno- health workers have begun,” said regional Let’s be just a teeny bit more patient and The son of a piano teacher, his favourite One lieutenant-colonel has died. head of Ukraine’s state eco- byl exclusion zone and fl ames governor Luca Zaia. we will soon be out swimming in the pianist is the late Canadian Glenn Gould, In Spain, which stands second behind the logical inspection service, spread through the forest. Following an initial phase of testing on sea! I’m dedicating you a piece of my renowned for his interpretations of JS United States for the number of infections at said in a Facebook post that The power station con- 2,000-3,000 health workers, tests are to own,” he says in a Youtube video before Bach. more than 130,000, the defence ministry said radiation levels at the centre taminated a large swathe of be extended to staff and residents in nurs- 230 personnel had tested positive, while some of the fi re were higher than Europe when its fourth reac- ing homes and workers in contact with 3,000 military staff are in self-isolation. normal. tor exploded in April 1986, the public. most serious collapse since World War II, all has to be proven but that’s how vac- Spain’s chief of defence staff , Air Force His post included a video with the area immediately Zaia said the aim would ultimately be authorities are desperate to restart pro- cines are made as well.” General Miguel Angel Villarroya, said no of a Geiger counter show- around the plant the worst to allow authorities to issue “licences” for duction while avoiding a second wave The blood tests, which produce results naval operations had been aff ected by the ing radiation levels 16 times aff ected. individuals with proven immunity to the of infections that could reignite the epi- much more quickly than swab testing, aim virus, but the replacement of staff serving higher than normal. People are not allowed to virus to return to work. demic. to identify two types of antibodies — one with the EU’s Atalanta operation off the Ukraine’s emergency serv- live within 30km of the power The tests come as the number of deaths But in the absence of a cure or vaccine, which shows contact with the virus and a Horn of Africa had been interrupted. ice told AFP that no increase station. and infections has fl attened out and the the response has been hampered by the second which would indicate whether the Military units are already helping with in radiation in the air had The three other reactors government has begun considering the many unknown aspects of the virus and body has developed a defence against it. logistics and distribution of medical equip- been detected. at Chernobyl continued to so-called phase 2 stage of the crisis, when uncertainty over whether immunity can “We’ve begin verifying whether these ment around the country, but there is no “There is no spike in radia- generate electricity until the businesses and industry closed during the be developed against it. tests are eff ective and whether they con- clarity on how many have been tested. tion levels,” said Olga Kozak, power station fi nally closed lockdown can start to reopen. The tests, which look for antibodies cord with molecular analysis,” said And- “If the military is widely employed then a spokeswoman for the emer- in 2000. The total number of confi rmed cas- produced by the immune system in re- rea Crisanti, a professor of virology at the about 20% of them will have it,” said Jack gency service, which has de- A giant protective dome es increased yesterday by just 3,599 to sponse to the illness, are simpler than the University of Padua, which is carrying out Watling, a senior research fellow focused ployed planes, a helicopter was put in place over the 132,547, the lowest daily rise since March swab tests on mucus used to fi nd the vi- the testing with the University of Verona. on land forces at RUSI. and more than 100 fi refi ght- fourth reactor in 2016. 17, while the number of deaths rose 636 to rus itself, but there is some doubt about “I think that within two weeks or a “And if they start to deploy the military ers to fi ght the blaze, Fires occur regularly in the 16,523 — just under a quarter of all the fa- whether they can yield reliable results. month we will have enough data to be out to sites, they will have to use testing to Ukraine’s government forests near the Chernobyl talities registered so far in the world. “Some say they will work, others say able to have a certain level of confi dence,” ensure that they are not spreading the vi- agency for managing the power plant. With Italy’s fragile economy facing the they won’t,” Zaia told a daily briefi ng. “It he told Reuters. rus.” Pandemic is a historical test for Europe: Merkel

Reuters Merkel reaffi rmed Germany’s fend our Europe, to strengthen it.” level than that reported by other within 24 hours of diagnosis. In- Berlin opposition to pooling its debt Germany would also support a large European nations. fected people and those they had with other countries in the euro post-crisis stimulus programme Merkel said yesterday that re- contact with would be quaran- system but said she supported for the euro zone and the broader strictions on free movement and tined, either at home or in hotels. he coronavirus is the Eu- using the currency bloc’s bailout EU. business closures, in eff ect in The document assumes the ropean Union’s biggest fund to help badly aff ected coun- “Here too, Germany is ready to Germany since March 22, would pandemic will last until 2021. Tever challenge and mem- tries to weather the crisis. make a contribution,” she said. remain in place until at least April In return, shops would be ber states must show greater “In my view...the European German Finance Minister Olaf 19 and that it was too early to talk allowed to reopen, as well as solidarity so that the bloc can Union is facing the biggest test Scholz has said the eurozone’s about relaxing the lockdown. schools in select regions, though emerge stronger from the eco- since its foundation,” Merkel told bailout fund, the European Sta- A government document seen strict social-distancing meas- nomic crisis unleashed by the a news conference. bility Mechanism, with fi repower by Reuters yesterday maps out a ures would still be in place. pandemic, German Chancellor “We have a big health chal- of some 400bn euros, had the phased return to normal life after Strict border controls would Angela Merkel said yesterday. lenge that is impacting all mem- instruments suitable to cushion the lockdown ends, with meas- be relaxed, but large events and Germany and the Netherlands ber states, however diff erently. It the economic impact of the pan- ures that would include manda- private parties would remain for- have been criticised by Italy and is a symmetrical shock.” demic and that hard-hit coun- tory mask-wearing in public, bidden, the document said. Spain — the two countries worst Stressing that Germany would tries should be given swift access limits on gatherings and the rapid As soon as enough protective aff ected by the coronavirus out- be weakened if the EU was seen to the cash. tracing of infection chains. masks are available, it would be break — for rejecting calls that as showing insuffi cient solidar- Germany had reported 95,391 The draft action plan would made compulsory to wear them the euro zone issue common debt ity with its most needy members, confi rmed cases of the coronavi- make it possible to track more on trains and in buses as well as to cushion the economic impact Merkel said: “It will be about rus and 1,434 deaths as of yester- than 80% of people with whom in factories and public buildings, of the pandemic. showing that we are ready to de- day, a proportionally much lower an infected person had contact it said. Police off icers patrol a deserted Red Square in Moscow yesterday. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 7, 2020 13 INDIA Dharavi residents say they feel like sitting ducks

AFP The government announced cramped tin-roofed shanties, according to the World Economic for failing to improve infrastruc- facility, and taken over a private take them into confi dence to es- Mumbai a lockdown across the country fl ats and small factories that Forum. ture. hospital to treat coronavirus pa- tablish contact tracing,” he said. last month, ordering citizens to make up Dharavi, including two As municipal workers fumi- Now offi cials are hoping that a tients. But some residents said they stay home in the hope that this fatalities. gated the slum yesterday morn- rushed plan to create “contain- “We are preparing in advance worried it was too little too late in midst the clogged drains would contain the spread of the No one “wants to live in hap- ing, anxious residents told AFP ment zones” across Mumbai, in- and anticipating a huge crisis the slum. and overfl owing garbage virus. hazard conditions where 80 peo- they felt like sitting ducks as the cluding in Dharavi, will limit the if the virus spreads”, said Kiran “If the cases start increasing, Adumps of Mumbai’s Dhar- But Dharavi’s crowded streets ple have to share a toilet in the number of infections inches up- spread of the virus. Dighavkar, assistant commission- they will increase in very large avi – one of Asia’s largest slums mean social distancing is near morning”, said Vinod Shetty, di- wards. One of those who died was a er of the Mumbai city authority. numbers,” said Anil Sharma, who – coronavirus fears are growing, impossible for the people who rector of the non-profi t ACORN “What can we do? We are sanitation worker with the mu- A fear of being ostracised is works as a security guard. and residents say they are pow- live there – even if they only Foundation. sanitising our houses while be- nicipality who lived elsewhere also prompting many people to As people emerged from their erless to stop the spread of the leave home to buy food. But “survival in Dharavi is ing locked inside,” said Abdul but worked in the slums. evade questioning, he told AFP, homes to buy vegetables and disease. The glaring lack of proper in- based on being able to live that Kadir, who works at a provi- Police have erected barricades underlining the scale of the chal- milk, with one man even stop- The warren of narrow alleys is frastructure forces many resi- close. If everyone asked for 6ft sions store. near the areas where the victims lenge facing offi cials as they try ping for a shave at a roadside bar- home to around a million people, dents to use public bathrooms, distance we would need to have “We are trying to be safe in our lived or worked, to prevent out- to track down victims’ contacts ber, Sharma told AFP the sight of many of whom work as security making the area a fertile ground an area three times the size of houses,” the 48-year-old added. siders from entering. and get them tested. the crowds – although smaller guards or domestic workers in for Covid-19 to spread. Dharavi”, he told AFP. Sanitation is dire in the neigh- Offi cials have also repurposed “Ill-informed people are afraid than usual – made him very anx- upmarket neighbourhoods near- Five coronavirus cases have Its population density is bourhood, whose residents have an empty sports stadium, turn- to disclose whom they met for ious. by. been confi rmed among the thought to be 270,000 per sq km, long criticised the government ing it into a 300-bed quarantine fear of stigma. We are trying to “I am very afraid,” he said. Covid-19 tally rises to 4,281, Maharashtra PM, other top leads with 748 cases govt fi gures Agencies New Delhi

total of 111 people have died of Covid-19 in A India, with 32 fatali- to take 30% ties and 693 fresh cases in the past 24 hours alone, govern- ment data released yesterday showed. The figures released by the Health Ministry take the number of positive cases in cut in salary India past the 4,000-mark to 4,281. Agencies lauded the prime minister for the to ramp up testing for the coro- India has registered an in- New Delhi decisions. navirus. crease of 500-plus cases in the “The parliament of the world’s Offi cials hope to be testing four days since Friday. largest democracy stands togeth- 20,000 people daily by the end of Maharashtra remained the rime Minister Narendra er in these challenging times. I the week, twice the current rate. worst-hit state with a total Modi and other top gov- thank all the parties and MPs for Since India’s fi rst case was con- number of positive cases rising Pernment fi gures will take a their support,” Shah tweeted. fi rmed on January 30, the country to 748, followed by Tami Nadu 30% salary cut this year, a minis- The opposition Congress sup- has conducted only a little over (571) and Delhi (523). ter said yesterday, as the country ported the pay cut but criticised 96,000 tests, having focused ef- At least 314 people are af- tackles the coronavirus outbreak the suspension of MPLADS, say- forts on identifying those who had fected in Kerala, 305 in Uttar and its impact on the economy. ing it will “undermine” the role come in contact with people who Pradesh, while Rajasthan re- Modi has imposed a three- and functions of MPs.” have tested positive. ported 274 cases, Telengana 321 week lockdown to halt the spread “Please note that MPLAD is The results show 4,067 people cases, and Andhra Pradesh 226. of the virus, but it has left mil- meant to execute developmen- are infected, and 107 have died of Madhya Pradesh has reported lions without jobs and many of tal works in the constituencies. the respiratory disease. 165 cases, Jammu and Kashmir the more vulnerable sections of Suspending MPLADS is a dis- Offi cials believe a three-week 109, Punjab 76 cases, West Ben- society struggling for food and service step to the constituents nationwide lockdown will have gal 80, Gujarat 144, Haryana 84 shelter. and it will undermine their role slowed the spread of the virus cases, Bihar 32, Chandigarh 18, The federal cabinet has ap- and functions,” party spokesman in communities, giving them a Assam 26and Ladakh 14. proved a decree under which Randeep Surjewala said. chance to catch up in the race to In Andaman and Nicobar Is- Modi, along with President Ram Senior Congress leader Ahmed stop a full blown epidemic. lands, there are at least 10 cas- Nath Kovind, state governors and Patel “welcomed” the cabinet Lav Agarwal, joint secretary in the es, Uttarakhand has 26 cases, members of parliament, will take decision, saying that “in diffi cult Health Ministry leading the eff ort to Arunachal Pradesh has 1, Goa the salary cut as part of their so- times it is necessary that we help tackle the spread of infections, said 7, Chhattisgarh 10, Himachal cial responsibility, Information citizens”. the country was increasing its test- Pradesh 13, Jharkhand 4, Ma- and Broadcasting Minister Pra- “As a member of parliament, I ing capacity gradually. nipur 2, Odisha 21 and Puduch- kash Javadekar told reporters. welcome the government’s deci- “We should be not be panick- erry 5. Javadekar said the cabinet sion to cut the salaries of MPs. In ing, we should be preparing,” The most number of fatali- also approved a move to suspend this diffi cult time, this is the least Agarwal said. ties are from Maharashtra - 45. the Members of Parliament Lo- we can do to help fellow citizens,” “We have followed a pro-ac- Health Ministry officials cal Area Development Scheme he tweeted. tive policy from the beginning. said more than 1,000 cases (MPLADS) for two years and this Marxist party leader Sitaram Our focus has been on surveil- were connected to a religious amount will also go to the Con- Yechury, however, accused the lance and contact tracing. In- gathering organised by Tablighi solidated Fund of India. government of “fudging data”, stead of the virus chasing us, we Jamaat in New Delhi last These funds will be used to and said it had pushed the econ- have been chasing the virus.” month. strengthen the government’s ef- omy “steeply downhill” even be- Testing had already doubled Senior ministry official forts in managing the challenges fore Covid-19. in the last two days from 5,000 Lav Agarwal said the number and adverse impact of Covid-19 “Transfer of money to the samples a day, another health of- of Covid-19 cases in India in the country, he said. Consolidated Fund of India, in- fi cial said. was doubling every 4.1 days The government is tightening stead of being directed towards “This is expected to reach and that rate could have been purse strings due the coronavi- fi ghting Covid-19,shows that it 20,000 in the next three days and slower at 7.1 days had the Delhi rus emergency and a fund – PM is a measure to deal with the eco- increase further over the next event – attended by thousands CARES – has been set up for re- nomic destruction caused in the few weeks as per the plan,” the from India and abroad – not A volunteer gets his temperature checked as others sign-up and stand in a queue before entering a lief eff orts. past six years,” Yechury said. offi cial said. taken place. warehouse to pack emergency essentials and groceries to be distributed to people in Bengaluru yesterday. Home Minister Amit Shah Meanwhile, India is struggling India has enough ventilators Rail coaches turned for the present, say experts into isolation wards

IANS ters in cities across India on its IANS and even the United States, their “Although the exact count of New Delhi services like Maps, to help peo- New Delhi Covid-19 patients and mortality ventilators is not available, when ple, especially migrant workers. rates are much higher. However, the count was last taken by the The tech giant said it was there is always scope to do better. government, it was 15,000. But he Indian Railways has working closely with state and ealthcare experts yes- The situation is so-far so-good.” within 10 days, it has increased converted over 2,500 central government authorities terday said India had He said religious congre- to 30,000, as per my knowledge Ttrain coaches into isola- to mark the locations of these Henough ventilators to gations and similar activities through informal sources.” tion wards in 10 days since the relief centres. meet the increasing demand for should be strictly avoided, and He said the lockdown period nationwide lockdown began. “As the Covid-19 situation de- the vital equipment needed to people with other health issues, has given the government time to A Railway Ministry spokes- velops, we are making a concert- tackle coronavirus. especially diabetes, should be prepare the healthcare sector for man said yesterday that the ed eff ort to build solutions that Dr Saurabh Sachar of Delhi’s taken care of. unforeseen circumstances. plan is to initially convert 5,000 help people during these times Safdarjung Hospital told IANS: “If people continue to follow “India’s performance is quite coaches for use as isolation of need,” Anal Ghosh of Google “We are well-equipped. We have social distancing and isolation, I impressive because many private wards. India said in a statement. enough buff er of ventilators right don’t think this is a problem that sectors have also started manu- The spokesman said different “Highlighting the locations of now at the hospital. Moreover, we cannot come out of. facturing the equipment. By and railway zones have completed food and night shelters on Goog- the ratio of people infected with People should avoid switch- large, if we reach community- an almost impossible task in a le Maps is a step to make this in- coronavirus and people who re- ing on air-conditioners in this level spread, India will be ready. brief period amid a lockdown, formation easily available to the quire ventilators is very low. The changing weather. If these The delay of the outbreak by the when manpower resources are users in need, and ensure they government has scaled up manu- things are followed, there are less 21-day lockdown has certainly limited. can avail the food and shelter facturing of these equipment. chances that we will receive pa- helped. All experts agree that the “With the conversion of services being provided by the As of now, I don’t think we will tients requiring ventilators,” Sa- pandemic may be slow here now, around 2,500 coaches, 40,000 government authorities,” Ghosh reach a stage where we need to char said. but may peak later, but by then isolation beds are now ready for said. utilise all available ventilators or According to the Health Min- things will be in place,” Asokan meeting any medical contin- People can now find these need more.” istry, less than 20 Covid-19 pa- said. gency,” he said. locations in 30 cities on Google He also said that, compared tients were on ventilator support IMA president Dr Rajan Shar- “On average, 375 rail coaches Maps, Search and Google As- with many other countries, In- till March 30. ma said the pandemic had shown are being converted daily at 133 sistant. dia was doing reasonably good As against this, over 14,000 a downward trend worldwide locations across the country.” This will soon be available in in terms of handling Covid-19 ventilators were identifi ed in yesterday. The isolation ward coaches Hindi, Google said, adding the pandemic. hospitals across the country “Right now, the situation is are equipped according to med- company was working towards “India is certainly doing bet- for coronavirus patients at that manageable. Most people are in ical advisories. making the facility available in ter than many other countries. time. quarantine. Very few Covid-19 A worker wearing a protective suit disinfects the exterior of a passenger zGoogle said yesterday it has other Indian languages, as well If we compare our population Dr R V Asokan of the Indian patients require ventilator sup- train after it was converted into an isolation facility on the outskirts of started showing the locations as adding additional shelters in with countries like Italy, Spain Medical Association (IMA) said: port.” Kolkata yesterday. of food shelters and night shel- more cities across the country. Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, April 7, 2020 INDIA Zoos on alert after tiger in US tests positive for virus

IANS “In the country, zoos have (NZP) in Hyderabad, one of the As part of precautionary clean their enclosures, maintain vegetables. The zoo that has tacted a slaughterhouse in Un- New Delhi been asked to be vigilant. If largest zoos in the country, yes- measures, thermal scanning of hygiene and sanitation, keep over 1,000 inmates, includ- nao that agreed to supply frozen animals are seen with abnormal terday sounded an alert. about 150 zoo employees was an eye on the health of animals ing birds and reptiles, is facing meat which is now being given to behaviour, then they should be Animal keepers and veterinary being dome. and for emergency maintenance problems in providing food to the carnivorous animals. he Central Zoo Authority monitored 24×7 using CCTVs. staff have been alerted to moni- “All zoo staff have been in- services. the animals. Mubarak Ali, one of the oldest (CZA) yesterday asked all Caretakers should not be allowed tor animals, particularly tiger formed about the Covid-19 The employees have been pro- Zoo director R K Singh said 45 zoo staff ers who has been feed- Tzoos across the country to to feed those animals without and primates, for symptoms safety protocol,” said the NZP vided reusable masks, sanitisers of the animals are carnivorous. ing carnivores for over 30 years, remain on high alert and collect adequate PPT kits,” Yadav said. of cold, nasal discharge or any curator. and soaps. “We need around 200kg of said: “The animals do not rel- samples for Covid-19 testing af- Delhi Zoo director Sunny Buxi symptoms of fl u. “In view of the Covid-19 Set up in 1963, the NZP at- meat every day for these ani- ish frozen meat. Their quantity ter a tiger in a US zoo tested pos- told IANS that “everything is NZP curator N Kshitija said the threat, we have been taking tracts 27-30 lakh visitors a year. mals. Since the Janata Curfew of meat consumption is going itive for the novel coronavirus. fi ne in the national park; we are precautionary measures were be- several preventive prophylactic It houses over 155 species and on March 22 and the subsequent down.” “The United States Department taking precautions all the way. ing taken as per the instructions measures since the fi rst week of 1,550 specimens in spacious en- lockdown, the local meat sup- The zoo authorities have of Agriculture’s National Vet- There is no need to panic” of the principal chief conservator March. The entire zoo has been closures. pliers have refused to meet the managed to restore the supplies erinary Services Laboratories has The CZA said that mammals, of forests and the CZA. sanitised four times,” she said. Meanwhile, the inmates of whopping demand of 200kg a of fodder, vegetables and fruits confi rmed Covid-19 in a tiger at particularly cats, ferrets and pri- NZP offi cials said they were tak- The zoo, shut since March 22, the Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoo- day. In any case, the district ad- for other animals. the Bronx Zoo, New York,” CZA of- mates, need to carefully moni- ing all steps for the safety of ani- is using the services of animal logical Garden in Lucknow have ministration had shut down all However, the zoo seems to be fi cial S P Yadav said in a letter sent tored. mals and to prevent the man-to- keepers, gardeners, security and been aff ected by the disruption meat shops in the state capital.” heading for a major fi nancial cri- to all states and union territories. The Nehru Zoological Park animal transmission of Covid-19. workshop staff to feed animals, in supplies of fodder, meat and The zoo authorities then con- sis due to the lockdown. Questions over odd number in coronavirus testing data

Agencies that 890 people had been evacu- Mumbai ated from overseas. That suggests authorities ap- peared to have been subtracting statistical oddity in In- 890 from the overall number of dia’s new coronavirus samples tested to provide an ap- Atesting numbers has proximation of the number of sparked questions about the tested individuals. country’s data management. Overall, India has conducted Every day for over a week in a little more than 96,000 tests, late March, government data a tiny proportion of its 1.3bn on the diff erence between the population. number of overall samples tested Reporting forms did not ini- and number of individuals tested tially have any way to signal if remained exactly the same - 890. an individual had already been That is despite both sets of tested, according to employees numbers increasing every day. at two testing centres. While the number of over- New government forms issued An employee stands in front of the entrance of the Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai yesterday. The private hospital was shut to new patients and declared a coronavirus all tests will be greater than or in recent days, however, include containment zone yesterday. equal to the number of individu- the question, “Is this a repeated als tested, given some people get sample?” re-tested, the repetition of the z Meanwhile, in a fi rst of number baffl ed experts. its kind in the country, Dr Dang “When it is exactly 890 (re- Labs yesterday launched a drive peatedly), that needs further through Covid-19 testing centre explanation,” said India-based in Punjabi Bagh of New Delhi. epidemiologist Tanmay Maha- The testing centre can con- duct 35-40 tests a day. Mumbai hospital shut after patra. The recurrence of the 890- “This centre ensures maxi- gap in the Indian Council of mum safety and minimum expo- Medical Research’s data was re- sure to both patients and sample ported by data journalism outlet collectors,” said Dr Arjun Dang, IndiaSpend. CEO of Dr Dang Labs. Asked if more such centres surge in cases among staff The issue has reignited re- searchers’ calls for the Indian would be set up, Dang said, government to share more gran- “More than volumes, we are Agencies The infections reportedly ordered a probe to ascertain if waited too long to carry out tests when doctors were targeted for ular data. looking at value i.e. in terms of Mumbai happened after two Covid-19 Covid-19 protocols were ad- on its staff , thereby increasing raising genuine concerns re- Giridhar Babu, a professor of patient safety but if the require- patients and two suspected cases hered to while dealing with the the possibility for infections to lated to Covid-19. They are even epidemiology with the Public ment comes in we will extend were shifted from the Kasturba two patients and two suspects spread. transferred or sacked in some Health Foundation of India, said our work hours and make ar- major private hospital in Hospital a fortnight ago. admitted there last month. Meanwhile, doctors at New cases,” RDA president Adarsh that would allow researchers to rangements accordingly.” Mumbai was shut to new While the two patients were The United Nurses Associa- Delhi’s All India Institute of Pratap Singh said. spot potential issues with num- zWith the growing demand Apatients and declared a kept in the isolation ward, the tion (UNA) in Mumbai accused Medical Sciences (AIIMS) yes- He said many doctors had re- bers more quickly. for protective equipment for coronavirus containment zone two suspect cases were kept with hospital management of failing terday wrote to Prime Minister ported to the association threats A researcher advising the In- healthcare professionals, a Hy- yesterday after 26 nurses and other patients in the ICU from to protect staff by refusing to let Narendra Modi, expressing con- issued by their institutions for dian government on modelling derabad based startup has de- three doctors tested positive, an where the infection may have them wear appropriate safety cern over targeting of doctors raising genuine concerns saying the virus’s spread said his team veloped 3D-printed face shields offi cial said. spread. gear. and other healthcare profes- “their social media accounts are had been “tearing (their) hair and goggles. Since the virus hit India - Last week, two nurses serv- “They told the medical staff - sionals for raising genuine issues under scrutiny and they will face out” trying to get authorities to Using 3D printing technol- which has been under lockdown ing in the ICU tested positive, ers to wear simple (surgical) related to Covid-19. the consequences.” ramp up testing. ogy, four young engineers have since March 25 - medical workers and the infections then spread masks and attend to the patient,” “Over the last few days, our The association urged the “Now, it seems we can’t even developed low-cost products have complained about not being quickly. said Akash S Pillai, UNA general frontline healthcare workers - government to create healthy trust the little data we have,” said which can provide additional given adequate protective gear. The municipal corporation secretary for Maharashtra. doctors, nurses and other sup- space for debate and discussion the researcher, asking to remain protection to the face and eyes Mumbai city authority has taken the swabs of another “They were thinking that if port staff - have come forward to aid healthcare workers rather anonymous to avoid repercus- of medical professionals or those spokesman Vijay Khabale-Patil 270 staff ers and patients at the the staff wore protective gear, with issues related to availabil- than ridicule them. sions from authorities. engaged in relief work. said that the Wockhardt Hospi- hospital for testing, and pend- family members of Covid-19 pa- ity of personal protective equip- “We demand all punishments The gap stems from counting Mohamed Abdul Shukoor, a tal has been declared a “contain- ing the outcome, the hospital tients would get scared,” he said. ment (PPEs), Covid-19 testing withdrawn and their honour Indians evacuated from abroad mechanical engineer, said the ment zone” after the cases were has been declared a containment “Many well-known hospitals equipment and quarantine facil- restored,” the association said. who were tested twice, Dr Rajni 3D printing technology can help confi rmed. zone. in Mumbai and Pune are putting ities on social media,” the Resi- Singh said the government Kant, with the Indian Council of overcome shortages of protec- “Three hundred staff ers have Since such a large number of their staff ers through the same dent Doctors’ Association of the should use the feedback given by Medical Research, said yesterday. tive gear for healthcare workers been quarantined and the hospi- cases have come from a single risks,” he said. hospital said. the healthcare workers “instead The government said in March dealing with Covid-19 patients. tal is shut,” he said. location, the authorities have He added that Wockhardt “There have been incidents of rejecting them.” Entrance exams put off Corona sweet to spread due to virus lockdown awareness of disease IANS The chain is known for its Kolkata tradition of producing sweets IANS exams has been extended by a down is implemented, it is no named after big events. New Delhi month. longer possible to conduct this During the India-Bangladesh The Ministry of Human Re- type of examination,” said a sen- ow the dreaded corona- pink ball Test at the Eden Gar- source Development has asked ior offi cial. virus has a sweet avatar. dens last November, the chain’s he government yesterday the respective boards to prepare a The Joint Entrance Examina- N A famous Bengali Pink Ball sandesh sold like hot decided to postpone sev- revised schedule of examinations. tionhas also been postponed. sweet shop chain in Kolkata has cakes. Teral entrance exams due Along with this, autonomous The IGNOU has extended the come up with its new off erings But this time the chain has to a 21-day lockdown. bodies and the National Coun- last date for submission of the - Corona Sandesh and Corona been guided not by any profi t Human Resource Develop- cil of Educational Research and form for the term-end examina- Cake -to spread awareness about motive, but by a desire to spread ment Minister Ramesh Pokhri- Training have been asked to tion to be held on April 30 with- the deadly Covid-19 disease de- consciousness about the rag- yal Nishank said: “The Direc- prepare an alternative academic out any late fee. clared a pandemic by the World ing infection which has claimed tor General of National Testing calendar. Meanwhile, the Haryana gov- Health Organisation. more than a hundred lives in In- Agency has been advised post- The ministry has taken this ernment has decided to promote The sandesh and cake, both dia, and over 70,000 globally. poning the last date for submis- step so that all students can ap- all students from class 1 to class shaped like the novel coronavi- “We will make the sandesh sion of applications for various ply for the exams with ease and 10 without any examination. rus, are prominently displayed every day and distribute it free,” examinations”. accessibility. Chief Minister Manohar Lal alongside other sweets in the re- the offi cial said. The minister said “this in- In view of the risk of coronavi- Khattar said no students would tail chain’s outlets. Proprietor Rabin Pal said the cludes admission examinations rus infection, the central govern- be detained in any class. But there is one important dif- sweet packets will have printed of Jawaharlal Nehru Univer- ment has also decided to post- Schools are closed as the ference. messages about the do’s and sity, the National Eligibility Test pone the National Eligibility cum country has been put under “Corona sandesh is not for don’ts for preventing the dis- (NET), the Indira Gandhi Na- Entrance Test examinations. lockdown. sale. We are handing it out to all ease. tional Open University PhD, the Admission cards for the NEET The chief minister said stu- our customers for free as part of “We are hopeful that if people Indian Council of Agricultural exams have not been issued. dents of class 10 will be promot- our social duty to make people meticulously follow the direc- Research (ICAR) exam, National Now, the ministry has asked ed to the next class on the basis aware about the dangerous viral tives on do’s and don’ts being Council for Hotel Management the board to postpone the ex- of average marks in subjects for infection,” said an offi cial of Hin- given to them by the authorities, course.” aminations. which exams have already been A worker gives the final touches to sweets featuring the novel dustan Sweets at its headquarters then the world will be corona- The deadline for all these “After the nationwide lock- held. coronavirus in a shop in Kolkata yesterday. in Jadavpur in south Kolkata. free soon,” he said. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 7, 2020 15 LATIN AMERICA Argentina to default on local dollar debt

Bloomberg defer principal and interest by local laws diff erent than the with foreign bondholders over in October slid 4.4 cents to 26 said in an interview published tral bank reserves. Buenos Aires payments until December 31. foreign-law obligations. $69bn of overseas notes. cents on the dollar. on Sunday that the coronavi- Along with Ecuador and Zam- It said payments may resume The government’s payments While it has stayed current Argentina was due to pay one rus pandemic had pushed debt bia, it’s the country with the earlier if the economy ministry on foreign-currency, local- on those securities, they trade of its largest local dollar matu- talks to the back burner and highest sovereign risk of non- rgentina plans to de- determines that’s warranted law debt — including bonds as low as 26 cents on the dol- rities, a key $1.4bn payment of that the country would priori- payment in the world. fault on its local dol- given progress in creating a and short-term notes — total lar, showing that investors have Bonar 2024 bonds, on May 7. tise the health emergency. The debt decree listed sev- A lar-denominated debt sustainable debt plan. $8.5bn over the remainder of priced in a default. “The imminent payments of Argentina has been on lock- eral public securities that are by delaying payments un- Argentina has already been the year, according to estimates “The global backdrop has government debt issued under down to try to stop the spread of exempt from the measure, in- til the end of the year as the unilaterally delaying payments from Buenos Aires-based con- changed so much in the last Argentine law and in dollars add the virus for weeks; so far there cluding non-transferable notes country falls deeper into re- on peso-denominated debt, sulting fi rm 1816 Economia y months, and that aff ects bal- to the context of deterioration have been 1,554 confi rmed cases held by the central bank and cession and restructuring even as it kept current on over- Estrategia. ance of payments, IMF help, of the social and economic sit- with 46 deaths. certain dollar-denominated talks with foreign bondhold- seas obligations and embarked After a brutal recession left everything,” said Paul McNa- uation due to the public health Even before the health cri- notes issued by the Treasury, ers are delayed. on restructuring talks. the country unable to pay its mara, investment director at emergency,” the government sis, Argentina was mired in such as those owned by the A decree in the Offi cial Ga- Now it’s clear the govern- debt even after a record IMF GAM UK in London. said in the decree. recession with sky-high in- pension-fund administered by zette said the government will ment is treating debt governed loan, Argentina is in talks Local dollar bonds maturing President Alberto Fernandez flation and insufficient cen- Anses. Lopez Obrador pitches frugal economic plan against virus

Reuters up to 10% in 2020. Mexico City That sum is far less than $92bn in energy investments the private sector has proposed to the presi- exico’s president un- dent. veiled a plan to lift the His speech coincided with Meconomy out of the growing calls for his government coronavirus crisis, vowing to to emulate the US and European help the poor and create jobs, but nations with a major stimulus his promise of fi scal discipline package to fi ght the recession. sparked criticism that the meas- “The mechanisms that AMLO ures fell far short of what was is thinking about are going to be needed. completely insuffi cient to deal President Andres Manuel with this type of recession,” said Lopez Obrador pledged Mexico Viri Rios, a Mexican political would create 2mn new jobs in analyst. the next nine months and boost Gustavo de Hoyos, head of small business and housing employers’ federation Co- loans. parmex, was scathing about the He also vowed to tighten pub- economic plan. lic sector austerity to avoid debt. “No relevant measure to deal Governments worldwide with the #Covid-19 economic have unleashed unprecedented crisis was announced,” de Hoyos Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro talks to supporters as he leaves Alvorada Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, yesterday. spending pledges to minimise said afterwards on Twitter. damage to their economies from Lopez Obrador’s former fi - the coronavirus, including a $2tn nance minister, Carlos Urzua, package by Mexico’s top trading last week called for Mexico to partner, the US. run a bigger defi cit, saying it But Mexico’s leftist leader, was “obvious” national gov- targeting measures for the “most ernments should signifi cantly vulnerable”, said he would use increase public defi cits in the Brazil-China diplomatic spat a budget stabilisation fund and crisis. cash from public trusts to fund The government’s latest esti- plans to shield the poor from a mate projects the economy could slump economists expect to be contract by up to 3.9% in 2020, severe. though Lopez Obrador has said “This crisis is temporary, tran- he does not agree, calling for over virus supplies escalates sitory,” Lopez Obrador said in more optimism on the economy, a televised speech. “Normality which was already contracting Reuters to mock Chinese accents. and Weintraub did not respond to zil’s relationship with China, its As the death toll from the epi- will return soon. We will defeat last year. Sao Paulo The Chinese embassy in Bra- a request for comment. largest trading partner and the demic rises, opinion polls show the coronavirus, we will reacti- Without unprecedented zil, which had traded barbs last In a radio interview, the minis- world’s main producer of medical that an overwhelming majority vate the economy.” measures, there could be “an month with Bolsonaro’s son for ter said he was not racist. supplies, underscoring deep fault of Brazilians are in favour of the Last week, Lopez Obrador said economic depression and a enewed attacks on China by comparing China’s handling of He also redoubled his attacks lines in Bolsonaro’s government. restrictions to contain the spread about $10bn was available from deepening of poverty not seen a member of Brazilian Presi- the disease to the former Soviet on China for its handling of the Weintraub is among advisers of coronavirus. various rainy day funds, while in Mexico in many decades,” a Rdent Jair Bolsonaro’s inner Union’s Chernobyl nuclear dis- pandemic, accusing Chinese to Bolsonaro, including his sons The health ministry said on the fi nance ministry said “buff - group of economists, policymak- circle soured diplomatic relations aster, denounced the minister in manufacturers of profi teering. and Foreign Minister Ernesto Sunday that new cases had dou- ers” for the economy included ers and politicians told Lopez again yesterday as the education a statement yesterday. Weintraub said he would only Araujo, who call for closer align- bled in the previous fi ve days to a stabilisation fund of about Obrador in a letter urging quick minister accused Chinese medical “These completely absurd apologise in exchange for a bar- ment with the US and caution 11,130, with deaths doubling to $6.6bn available from the end of government action. equipment makers of profi teering and despicable declarations, gain on mechanical ventilators towards China, the main buyer of 486 since April 1. 2019. One signatory, Rolando Cord- from the coronavirus pandemic. with their racist character and for university hospitals. Brazil’s farm goods and iron ore. More than half of the deaths Known by his initials “AMLO”, era, a left-leaning economist at Brazil’s Education Minister unspeakable objectives, have “Have them deliver 1,000 ven- Last week, Health Minister have been in Brazil’s most popu- the president said Mexico would the National Autonomous Uni- Abraham Weintraub suggested in caused negative infl uences in the tilators to my hospitals and I’ll Luiz Henrique Mandetta said lous state Sao Paulo, where Gov- soon announce investments in versity of Mexico (UNAM), ap- a Twitter post, which he later de- healthy development of bilateral go down to the embassy and say, that China had ditched some ernor Joao Doria yesterday ex- the energy sector worth 339bn plauded the president’s commit- leted, that the disease would help relations,” the Chinese embassy ‘I’m an idiot,’” he told Radio Ban- Brazilian equipment orders when tended the quarantine for 15 days pesos ($13.5bn) to boost the ment to helping the poor, but said China “dominate the world.” tweeted early yesterday. deirantes yesterday morning. the US government sent more until April 22, and said police economy, which some private his initial response to the plan was He referenced a cartoon char- Brazil’s education ministry The Covid-19 pandemic has than 20 cargo planes to the coun- have been authorised to break up analysts forecast to contract by one of disappointment. acter with a speech impediment declined comment on the matter, put renewed pressure on Bra- try to buy the same products. public gatherings. Venezuela’s elderly hit Venezuelans stream by virus quarantine home from Colombia AFP migration offi ce said. Bogota In recent years Colombia has welcomed 1.8mn Venezuelans Reuters around the world for the elderly, The group estimates that at fl eeing their country’s economic Caracas who are much more vulnerable to least 900,000 senior citizens are undreds of Venezuelans and political collapse. the Covid-19 respiratory disease living by themselves following a who fl ed to neighbouring According to the United Na- caused by the virus. migration exodus of nearly 5mn HColombia during their tions, 4.9mn Venezuelans have enezuelan retirees Carlos But the plight of senior citizens Venezuelans who have fl ed the country’s economic crisis are fl ed their country, mainly to oth- Blanco, 81, and Olga Rod- was already acute in Venezuela economic crisis since 2015. now returning home, pushed by er South American nations, and Vriguez, 78, have for more following the economic crisis and Blanco said that he and Rod- the deadly novel coronavirus and many need international aid due than a year been unable to pur- problems with power and water riguez for breakfast have black Colombia’s own pandemic woes. to the economic eff ects of the chase the diabetes medication services. coff ee and an arepa — Venezuela’s Colombian migration offi - coronavirus pandemic. they need, as the country’s hyper- Blanco and Rodriguez, like 3mn typical grilled corn pancake — and cials said on Saturday 600 peo- Before crossing the interna- infl ation has dented the purchas- other Venezuelan retirees, struggle then a bowl of rice and lentils in ple – including 35 children and tional bridge into Venezuela, ing power of their monthly pen- to live on state pensions of 250,000 the late afternoon. 167 women – crossed the main Colombian police took the sions. bolivars a month — the equivalent They receive fi nancial help from border point at the Simon Boli- temperature of the departing Already at high risk in the coro- of about $3 — which can at best one of their fi ve children, but it is var International Bridge in the migrants to make sure no one navirus pandemic because of their buy a few pounds of chicken or not enough for them. northeastern city of Cucuta, into could be infected with the virus, age, the couple’s untreated Type 2 several kilos of corn fl our. Others are facing even worse Venezuela. and sprayed those wearing face diabetes leaves them at greater risk In a survey published in Novem- circumstances. Another group of 160 have de- masks with a disinfectant. of any type of infection, as well as ber by non-profi t groups Convite Andrea Guerrero, 80, lives alone parted Bogota on their way back “We’re afraid because we don’t complications including blurred and HelpAge, 77% of Venezuelans in a small room that she rents for home, offi cials said. know if over there we could face vision or diabetic comas. over 55 said they did not have ac- 50,000 bolivars per month, the Although the border is offi - the coronavirus. We don’t have They are now confi ned to their cess to enough food and one in 10 equivalent of $0.06, in the La Cruz cially closed as a measure taken medicine to fi ght that,” a Ven- home, living off the food they have said they go to bed hungry. neighbourhood of in Chacao, a to halt the spread of the novel ezuelan returning home named in storage, after President Nicolas The elderly “have faced a pro- district of Caracas. coronavirus, Colombia has Alexander Colmenares said. Maduro declared a quarantine. gressive decline in their living She used to make ends meet by opened a “humanitarian corri- The head of Colombia’s im- Blanco, who lives on the fourth conditions: malnutrition, inabil- washing dishes in restaurants. dor” to allow Venezuelans to re- migration service, Juan Francisco fl oor of a building in the Coche ity to pay for their medicine, lack But now with the restaurants turn home. Espinosa, told reporters that neighbourhood of western Cara- of access to health, migration of closed, she depends on help from Colombian agents are making Venezuelans who fl ed to places cas, feels very pessimistic about their children and relatives,” said neighbours and donations of food Workers of Chacao municipality walk with bags of food for the sure that those departing Bogota like Ecuador and Peru often on the future. The coronavirus Luis Cabezas, director of Convite, by the Chacao municipal govern- elderly during the nationwide quarantine due to the coronavirus “were voluntarily returning” to foot, are now also returning to outbreak has sparked concern which focuses on human rights. ment. disease outbreak in Caracas, Venezuela. Venezuela, an offi cial at the im- their home country. Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, April 7, 2020 PAKISTAN

Cabinet Dozens of doctors demanding reshuffl ed Internews Islamabad

rime Minister Imran Khan yesterday reshuffl ed his virus safety equipment held Pcabinet team by inducting new aides as well as removing AFP but they started the protest,” some key persons. Quetta Shehwani said, adding that au- They are: Syed Fakhar Imam, thorities were planning to dis- Federal Minister for National tribute protective equipment Food Security; Makhdoon Khus- ore than 50 doctors after receiving supplies from ru Bakhtiyar, Federal Minister protesting the lack of the federal government earlier for Economic Aff airs; Hammad Msafety equipment as yesterday. Azhar, Federal Minister for In- they battle the coronavirus were Medical staff across Pakistan dustries; Azam Sawati, Federal arrested yesterday in the south- have complained for weeks over Minister for Narcotics Control; western Pakistani city of Quetta, the severe shortages of safety and Babar Awan, Adviser for police and physicians said. equipment in hospitals as they Parliamentary Aff airs. The arrests occurred after treat patients suff ering from the Mohamed Shahzad Arbab has more than 100 doctors and par- novel coronavirus. been removed as adviser. Resig- amedics rallied near the city’s Yasir Achakzai, president nation of Khalid Maqbool Sid- main hospital and then moved to of the doctors association in dique as Federal Minister has protest in front of the chief min- Quetta, told reporters that the been accepted. ister’s residence, according to an government was not following AFP reporter. the World Health Organisation’s Police later used batons to (WHO) guidelines for protect- disperse the group after they ing doctors and other health tried to enter the chief minis- workers. ter’s home, resulting in scuffl es “So they forced us to protest Qureshi between the sides. for our rights,” said Achakzai. “We have taken 53 doctors into Pakistani has recorded 3,277 custody for violating the law,” Covid-19 cases and 50 deaths holds talks Abdul Razzaq Cheema, a senior caused by the virus, however, the police offi cial told AFP after the true tally is thought to be many incident. times larger as only limited testing with SCO Cheema said police held the is available in the impoverished doctors for several hours before the country of 215mn. provincial government ordered Last month, both a doctor and offi cial them to release the group. nurse in Pakistan died after con- Liaqat Shehwani, a spokes- tracting the novel coronavirus, Internews man for the provincial Balo- while at least two dozen other Islamabad chistan government, said that medical workers have recently the doctors were protesting over tested positive for Covid-19. the unavailability of personal Frontline medical work- akistan’s Foreign Minister protective equipment (PPE) like ers across the world have been Shah Mahmood Qureshi masks and goggles. grappling with short supplies Pheld a telephonic con- “We had assured them that of vital safety equipment as the Policemen arrest doctors and paramedics in the course of a protest during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive versation with Vladimir Norov, the PPE would be provided soon pandemic spreads. measure against the Covid-19 coronavirus, in Quetta yesterday. secretary general, Shanghai Co- operation Organisation (SCO), yesterday and exchanged views on adopting an eff ective strategy to face the global challenge of the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. Minister warns Screening at airports intensifi ed The minister appraised the SCO secretary general about steps taken by Pakistan to pre- Internews the quarantine or other relevant government’s instructions were aviation staff ,” he added. vent spread of the coronavirus. Islamabad location. being followed at all airports in The spokesperson clarifi ed He emphasised on evolving a coronavirus may Those with negative test re- the country. that the national carrier was common approach from SCO sult shall be allowed to leave with The incident that took place at constantly in contact with top platform to prevent spread of the akistani aviation authori- strict instructions and guidance Karachi airport was “against the offi cials and that reports about virus. ties introduced modifi ed for home quarantine. instructions issued by the Gov- its airplane crew contracting He said Pakistan is looking Pstandard operating pro- Data of all the passengers and ernment of Pakistan on aviation coronavirus were misleading. forward for a video conference test country’s cedures (SOPs) for airports at fl ight crew with their mobile staff ”, he said, adding that three The crew was in isolation in a of the health ministers of South international arrivals for bet- numbers will be kept for record hours prior to the plane with no PIA hotel and were awaiting test Asian Association of Regional ter control of the coronavirus and further follow up. passengers was scheduled to ar- results, the spokesperson added. Countries (Asean) so that mem- spread. The Pakistan International rive from London, all offi cials However, the airline’s opera- ber nations can benefi t from the The SOPs shall be applica- Airlines (PIA) suspended its had been informed. tions from Karachi were to re- experiences of one another. health system ble on all passengers and fl ight operations from Karachi, re- However, the spokesperson main suspended until there was The foreign minister also crew with immediate eff ect, says jecting reports that its pilots stressed that despite instruc- a consensus on the government- briefed Norov about Pakistan’s a statement issued by aviation from a fl ight from Britain had tions, the Sindh health de- issued directives, he said. proposal regarding restructuring division. contracted the coronavirus. partment’s offi cials insisted The Pakistan Airline Pilots’ of loans to support developing Internews diff erence between the facili- As per SOPs, upon arrival by In a statement, the national on forcefully quarantining the Association (PALPA), an organi- countries’ economies. Islamabad ties, hospitals and quarantine international fl ights, everyone carrier clarifi ed its views on pilots. sation to protect the rights of the He expressed the hope that zones being set up by the gov- will be screened as per practice. quarantining its aviation staff PIA chief executive Arshad national carrier’s pilots, has told SCO will play its pivotal role in ernment and the spread of the The swab sample shall not, how- in Karachi. “The PIA is strictly Malik has expressed serious pilots not to fl y planes, putting forwarding Pakistan’s suggestion akistan’s Federal Minister coronavirus will diminish in the ever, be collected at the airport. abiding by the instructions is- concerns over the actions con- ongoing fl ight operations at risk of restructuring loans. for Planning, Develop- coming weeks. All passengers and fl ight sued by the Government of trary to the federal government’s of suspension. While appreciating Prime Pment and Special Initia- Umar said that the bans that crew shall be quarantined for 24 Pakistan,” its spokesperson instructions, he added. The PALPA stressed that the Minister Imran Khan’s proposal tives Asad Umar said that the the lockdown measures were not hours at a location decided by Abdullah Khan said. The PIA’s airplane crew is lives of pilots and aircrew were of restructuring loans of de- government was apprehensive only hurting the poor but the the authorities. After 24 hours, “The instructions include bringing back Pakistanis who at risk if they fl ew to countries veloping economies, the SCO that the coronavirus will test affl uent as well. a swab sample shall be collected measures related to disinfect- have been stranded abroad, hit by the coronavirus pandem- general secretary said it is need Pakistan’s health system in the He said that keeping this for the test at the designated ing the airplane as well as the Malik said, according to Khan. ic. The move has put fl ights for of the hour to extend fi nan- coming weeks. in mind, the government was facility. Anyone with a positive crew’s health and safety,” Khan “We have ensured all pos- Pakistanis stranded abroad in cial co-operation to developing Umar was briefi ng the media working to formulate a strat- test result shall be retained at added, noting that the federal sible safety measures for the danger. countries. about the coronavirus situa- egy based on which an aff ected tion in the country at the Na- person or area is identifi ed and tional Command and Opera- that individual or place is quar- tion Centre (NCOC) where he antined so that it does not aff ect thanked the public for adher- others. ing to the government’s safety He said that Pakistan’s testing Cash transfer to needy precautions. capacity was limited when the The minister credited the fi rst cases were reported in the government’s measures of ban- country but with each passing families to start soon ning public gatherings for bring- day, it was increasing. ing down the rate of the virus Umar said that Pakistan Internews a message of eligibility, will be spreading but warned that it was taking special measures Islamabad informed, in a follow up SMS, does not mean the toll may not to protect the health profes- that from where and when they rise further. sionals who were battling the should collect their amount. “Had the steps [closures] not coronavirus on the front lines. pecial Assistant to Pakista- She said benefi ciaries of this been taken, the disease would The minister said that he ni Prime Minister on Pov- programme will be fi nalised have spread at a much faster could not predict whether the Serty Alleviation and Social through proper scrutiny mecha- rate,” he said. bans in place will increase or Safety Dr Sania Nishtar has said nisms like data analytics, wealth However, the minister ex- decrease after April 14. “Today, I that transfer of cash assistance profi ling, average monthly bills, pressed the government’s con- cannot tell you whether the bans of Rs12,000 to deserving fami- and travel history. cerns that the coming weeks will increase or not from April lies under Ehsaas Emergency Nishtar said there will be an can be diffi cult for the country’s 15,” he said. “Those decisions Cash Programme will begin option for appeal if a person gets health system. will be taken this week.” this week. a notifi cation that he is not eligi- “The rate at which the infec- He paid tribute to the doctors, Speaking to media yesterday, ble for the assistance. She said a tion is spreading, we are see- nurses, armed forces personnel, she said the federal government helpline for this purpose will be ing that the limits of our health NGOs and the people for com- is providing cash assistance to established soon. system will be tested in coming ing to each other’s aid in these support the vulnerable segments She said more than one SMS days,” he said, adding that the testing times. of society, aff ected due to lock- can be sent from a same mobile down in the wake of Covid-19. number as data has the ability Use of plasma allowed for treating Covid-19 in KP She said deserving people to further scrutinise profi le of should send an SMS to 8171 every individual person. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Medical Complex medical and so far over 34mn messages Replying to a caller regarding People gather as they wait to cross, after according to the media, Pakistan opens its border with Afghanistan that province’s health department has director Prof Shehzad Akbar have been received through this SMS response to disabled peo- was closed in preventive measure following an outbreak of coronavirus disease (Covid -19), at the Friendship Gate allowed use of plasma extracted Khan had requested the service. She said under this pro- ple, Nishtar said all such people crossing point at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border town of Chaman yesterday. from the blood of patients having health secretary to constitute gramme, a deserving family will will have to register with the fully recovered from Covid-19 for a committee in accordance get a one-time assistance of NADRA database for becoming the treatment of the fresh cases. with a proposal made by Prof Rs12,000 to cater daily needs for eligible for fi nancial assistance A notification issued from the Tahir Shamsi, chairman of the four months. or package. off ice of secretary health said the National Passive Immunisation Elaborating the eligibility cri- She made it clear if a disa- Border crossings with Afghanistan Provincial Passive Immunisation Committee, to treat the fresh teria, she said there will be three bled person is not registered Committee proposed by the patients with plasma extracted types of messages in response of with Nadra database then it will Hayatabad Medical Complex from the blood of patients having people’s SMS like eligible, in- be hard to include him in the to remain open for four days (HMC) and comprising health fully recovered from the disease. eligible, or contact to the con- eligible list during the scrutiny experts and professionals had On Friday, the National Bioethics cerned district administration. process. Internews exit of Afghan nationals in Paki- considerations and to facilitate been given the go-ahead to Committee had approved passive She said those, who will get a She also made it clear that Islamabad stan, wishing to go back to their the Afghan nationals. submit a detailed proposal on the immunisation trial by the HMC message asking to contact the every SMS sent to 8171 is re- country. The statement further said as a subject for onward submission to but waited for the provincial district administration, are not sponded promptly and there The Foreign Offi ce spokesper- neighbour and in view of fraternal the National Bioethics Committee government’s formal approval of required to go anywhere now might be some delay due to rush akistan has opened son said in a statement that the bilateral relations, Pakistan re- for approval. the committee to start treatment as their particulars are being on the system as millions of Torkham and Chaman step has been taken on a special mains in abiding solidarity with the On March 28, the Hayatabad of coronavirus patients by plasma. verifi ed automatically. people are attempting to send Pborder crossings for four request of the Afghan govern- people of Afghanistan, particularly She said those, who will get messages simultaneously. days from yesterday to allow the ment based on humanitarian at this time of global pandemic. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 7, 2020 17 PHILIPPINES

Chinese medical Government suspends healthcare team arrives for workers’ overseas deployment

DPA cy is lifted and until Covid-19- and if there are not enough of virus battle Manila related travel restrictions are us, there will be more people lifted at the destination coun- who will get sick and die.” tries.” NEW CASES TAKE By Bernadette Tamayo he Philippines has tem- The resolution covers doc- TOTAL TO 3,660 Manila Times porarily suspended the tors, nurses, microbiologists, The Department of Health Tdeployment of healthcare medical biologists, medical reported 414 new confirmed workers abroad as the country technologists, clinical ana- cases of Covid-19 in the Phil- oreign Aff airs Secretary struggles to handle a growing lysts, respiratory therapists, ippines, bringing the country’s Teodoro Locsin Jr and number of infections with the pharmacists, laboratory tech- total to 3,660. FHealth Secretary Francisco novel coronavirus, a govern- nicians, radiologists and nurs- Eleven additional deaths Duque 3rd have welcomed the ment agency said yesterday. ing assistants, among others. were also recorded, pushing team of medical experts sent by The ban was announced as The agency said the tem- the death toll to 163, while 73 China to help the Philippines the main island of Luzon, home porary ban aims to support patients have recovered. fi ght the coronavirus disease to more than half of the coun- the government’s efforts to The department noted that 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. try’s population, entered the halt the spread of Covid-19, the current numbers do not The Department of Foreign fourth week of a month-long the potentially deadly disease reflect the real status of the Affairs (DFA) said the Chinese lockdown that was supposed to caused by the virus by priori- outbreak because laboratories doctors were dispatched by end on April 14. tising “human resource allo- were still clearing backlogs in their government to share tech- In a late-night televised cation for the national health- testing. This has prompted a nical advice on the prevention public address, President Ro- care system.” growing call from government and control of Covid-19 in the drigo Duterte said the govern- More than 20 doctors have officials and health experts to Philippines. ment was “inclined to extend died after being infected with extend the quarantine for at The team, which arrived the lockdown up to April 30” the virus in the Philippines, least two weeks. through a chartered flight, is but still needs further dis- according to Esperanza Cabral, Duterte said he felt like he comprised of 10 medical ex- cussions before making a fi- a health expert and former was between the devil and the perts in the fields of infectious nal decision. The Philippine health secretary. deep blue sea in making a deci- disease prevention and control, Overseas Employment Ad- “Many are hospitalised, sion on the lockdown’s exten- clinic treatment and laboratory ministration said it approved many are sidelined because sion. The temporary ban aims to support the government’s eff orts to halt the spread of Covid-19. testing and two officials. last week a resolution to im- they have been exposed un- “If people don’t go out of They will work closely with pose the temporary ban “until necessarily,” she said. “This their homes, they don’t work, everyone’s advice and all are saying go inside your house out until the pandemic is over. the Department of Health the national state of emergen- is going to decimate our ranks they don’t eat,” he said. “But goverments around the world and lock it and do not come When? I don’t know.” (DoH) for 15 days, but they will not take part in any direct clini- cal diagnosis or treatment, the Foreign Affairs department said. The Chinese medical experts Plans underway to use former Radio stations urged and officials will also exchange medical treatment experiences with their Filipino counter- to play music daily parts. Locsin lauded China’s presidential yacht for quarantine support to the Philippines’ fight against the pandemic and af- to ease anxiety firmed the DFA’s commitment to advancing co-operation with By Dempsey Reyes China in addressing the health Manila Times Manila Times of confusion, paranoia and crisis. “The Chinese experts ar- Manila anxiety, which should be ad- rived with invaluable firsthand dressed, and levels of loneli- experiences to share on fighting lans are underway to ness, depression, alcohol and and containing Covid. transform the former former senator has drug use and suicidal behav- Thank you China,” Locsin Ppresidential yacht, the urged radio networks iour are expected to rise,” Il- said on Twitter. BRP Ang Pangulo, into a quar- A to play one-hour daily arde said, quoting the WHO. Chinese Ambassador to the antine ship for persons sus- music to make people less The entire Luzon, the Philippines Huang Xilian said pected of having contracted anxious and nervous during country’s biggest group of in a statement, “I hope the ar- the coronavirus disease 2019 the enhanced community islands, was placed on lock- rival of this team will help the (Covid-19). quarantine (ECQ) brought down by President Rodrigo Philippines to improve its abil- The vessel can accommo- about by the coronavirus cri- Duterte for one month until ity of epidemic prevention and date at least 28 persons under sis. April 14 to stop the spread of control as well as diagnosis and investigation (PUIs) and per- “Everything in the elec- the virus, which has spawned treatment, so as to boost confi- sons under Monitoring (PUMs), tronics and print media is a pandemic. dence of the public in overcom- according to VAdm. Giovanni about coronavirus 2019 “This way, people already ing the Covid-19.” Carlo Bacordo, Philippine Navy Philippine Navy flag-officer-in-command, VAdm. Giovanni Carlo Bacordo (right) has said the (Covid-19), and while it’s grappling with this stressful Huang said the Chinese fl ag offi cer in command. government is ready to protect people to fulfil their duty to implement the Luzon-wide enhanced a welcome thing to know condition shall be reminded medical experts were among Bacordo said Ang Pangulo, community quarantine against the spread of Covid-19. what’s going on, too much of that this is not the end of the the first three teams sent by which is skippered by Cdr. it is psychological poison,” world, that there is hope and the Chinese government to the Marissa Arlene Andres-Mar- because other ships in the Na- economic status. As long as In 2016, after winning the said Eddie Ilarde, himself a the brighter side of life still Association of Southeast Asian tinez, is currently docked in vy’s fl eet could not be freed up they are PUIs or PUMs, we will presidential election, Duterte radio anchor. exists and behind the clouds Nations region. Davao City, Offi cials of the ship from operational duty. admit them,” Bacordo said. said he wanted to sell the yacht, The Bicolano mediaman the silver lining is about to To boost the Philippines’ have started consulting the Bacordo admitted Ang Pan- LCdr. Maria Christina Rox- with the proceeds allocated to said the World Health Organ- shine,” the former senator, a medical supplies in response Camp Panacan Station Hospi- gulo has no medical personnel as, the Navy spokesman, said veterans’ benefi ts, improve- isation (WHO) no less has ac- lifetime achievement awar- to Covid-19, the chartered tal, Southern Philippines Medi- on board and the only time that in another statement that the ment of government hospitals knowledged the deleterious dee and the longest-living plane from China also carried cal Center and other Davao- it can take on Covid-19 patients ship’s patients would observe and increasing doctors’ sala- effects on the mental health Filipino radio-TV personal- donations from the Chinese based hospitals to determine and suspected virus carriers is a three-meter physical dis- ries. of people who are forced to ity, said. government, which includ- the requirements for trans- after it is fi tted with the proper tancing rule and the ship’s Built in Japan, Ang Pangulo stay at home and removed Ilarde gained widespread ed 30 non-invasive ventila- forming the ship into a quaran- medical equipment and per- crew would be required to stay was originally christened as from their normal activities fame in the 1960s as host of tors, 5,000 medical protective tine centre. sonnel are recruited. aboard. the RPS Lapu-Lapu during the during a virtual lockdown the iconic radio programme, suits, 30,000 N95 face masks, Bacordo said President Ro- “We will admit all PUIs and “Diff erent entry points will term of President Carlos Gar- like the ECQ. “Dear Eddie,” a take on the 300,000 surgical masks, and drigo Duterte had tapped Ang PUMs. We will not look at their be made for the patients and cia. It was renamed Ang Pan- “This global health cri- life and times of the everyday 5,000 face shields. Pangulo as a quarantine vessel religion, political affi liation or medical staff ,” Roxas said. gulo during the Marcos years. sis has given rise to a feeling Filipino. Robredo, several lawmakers seek lockdown extension

By Bernadette Tamayo ingly spreading the disease. can cost by up to P8,000.” greatest resources in any econ- Manila Times He cited the case of Iceland, In separate interviews on omy, and they are the only irre- where laboratory mass test- ANC, leaders of the Makati placeable ones.” ing revealed that around 50% of Business Club (MBC) and the He said, “The historical evi- s the fi nal week of the cases have no symptoms. Employers Confederation of dence says that if you take your month-long, Luzon- “This is a better approach the Philippines (ECOP) sug- time and use the time wisely to Awide enhanced com- to flatten the curve and at the gested a calibrated lifting of the build capacity, improve your munity quarantine approaches, same time it would lead to a quarantine instead of main- system of care, and avoid mak- calls are mounting for an exten- more efficient use of resources taining the lockdown. ing mistakes such as premature sion because the number of new and avoid further strain to the Edgar Chua of the MBC said lockdowns, you reduce mortal- coronavirus cases and deaths country’s already overwhelmed efforts to contain Covid-19 ity rate and you enable a recov- continues to rise. healthcare system,” he said. need to be balanced with eco- ery.” Several lawmakers and other With only a few days of the nomic well-being and social Other congressmen also offi cials, including Vice Presi- quarantine left, Gatchalian order, citing that many Filipi- supported an extension, in- dent Maria Leonor “Leni” Ro- noted that the number of cases nos can only survive by making cluding House Minority Leader bredo, favour adding 15 days to and deaths continues to rise. a daily income. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr the lockdown, which is sched- The senator added that it was Sergio Ortiz-Luis of ECOP of Manila and Rep. Edcel Lag- uled to be lifted on April 13. vital for the country to have a said mass testing should ease man of Albay. Others, mainly from the busi- sustainable capacity for mass the need for a rigid lockdown. NEED TO EXPLAIN ness community, are proposing testing, as he urged the Depart- But reacting to the extension Vice President Robredo also a calibrated lifting that allows ment of Health to fast-track of the quarantine, Rep. backed calls for an extension, some sectors, particularly man- capacity-building and accredi- José María Clemente “Joey” saying it would be better to ufacturing, to reopen in order to tation of testing laboratories. said, “It’s not a tradeoff” be- delay the lifting of the quaran- soften the economic blow of the Gatchalian said mass pro- tween “losing a lot of lives and tine until the curve of Covid-19 quarantine of the coronavirus duction for locally produced saving some money” and “pro- cases and deaths flatten. disease 2019 (Covid-19) pan- testing kits developed by the tecting many lives and recover- In another ANC interview, demic. University of the Philippines- ing economic losses faster.” she added that clear messaging Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Several lawmakers and other off icials, including Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, favour National Institutes of Health “History and economics do was also important. who earlier warned of a looming adding 15 days to the lockdown, which is scheduled to be lifted on April 13. should boost the country’s not show that extension is a If people do not understand food shortage in Metro Manila testing capacity. tradeoff between lives and eco- the reasons for the extension, resulting from the lockdown, ward for mass testing to start on be isolated or ordered quaran- Task Force on Covid-19, said From April 4 to 25, health nomic growth,” said Salceda, people would resist it, she ex- said he supported an exten- April 14, adding that lifting the tined.” “Without mass testing, mass testing would be available workers should have been able the House ways and means plained. “We have seen in the sion of at least two more weeks quarantine before then would we are totally blind. to persons under monitoring to perform at least 26,000 committee chairman and rep- past few days, there are some to give time for mass testing for “undermine the reliability of And when we are blind, the (PUMs), persons under investi- tests. As more testing kits are resentative of Albay’s second violations. We have some re- Covid-19. mass testing results and would risk is higher of spreading the gation (PUIs) and frontliners. made available, they should be district. sistance — not massive, but In a statement over the week- only accelerate the spread of the virus again, thereby wasting the He added those who test posi- able to do 120,000 tests. “If anything, the more lives some resistance from our fel- end, he said food deliveries virus.” 30-day enhanced community tive needed to be treated and iso- Gatchalian said manufactur- we lose and the more panic this lowmen,” she added. bound for the capital region were He explained that mass testing quarantine,” he said. lated from the rest of the popu- er Manila HealthTek Inc makes virus creates if it gets worse, She added the immediate re- being held up at checkpoints, would “paint a clearer picture of MASS TESTING lation. those kits that were com- the less our chances are of any lease of the social amelioration despite Palace directives to allow Covid-19 spread in the country Earlier, Presidential peace Gatchalian said mass testing mercially available at P1,300, quick recovery,” he added. package was also important to them through. and help track down those who adviser Carlito Galvez J, chief must also cover those asymp- “cheaper than the ones cur- “Our people and our con- prevent people from going out Gatchalian was looking for- are infected so they can at once implementer at the National tomatic, who may be unknow- rently used in hospitals, which fidence — these are the two to seek livelihood. Gulf Times 18 Tuesday, April 7, 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 Covid-19 to climate change, Trump doubles down on crises

While the US is in the middle of one existential crisis, President Donald Trump last week exacerbated another. Someday, the US will put Covid-19, and the suff ering it caused the nation and the world, in the past. People will once again comfortably venture from their homes, the global economy will start humming and life will return to normal. Unfortunately, that will include revving back up the greenhouse-gas-emissions engine and resuming the dangerous pace of global warming that is now momentarily slowed by the world’s reaction to the coronavirus pandemic. Making matters worse, the Trump administration last week rolled back one of America’s most important eff orts to slow climate change. It released fuel-effi ciency standards US immigrants detained for cars and trucks that severely weaken rules put in place in 2012 by the Obama administration. It is a defeat for the future of our planet. The Obama rules required automakers to increase fuel effi ciency across their fl eets by 5% annually, reaching an in areas with few hospitals average of 54 miles per gallon by 2025. The Trump rules roll that back to 1.5% annually, with a target of 40 miles per with a daily average of about 1,200 175 intensive-care admissions. He referred questions about local gallon by 2026. By Kristina Cooke, Mica Rosenberg and Ryan McNeill detainees. The South Louisiana ICE Processing hospital resources to ICE. Then there’s the much bigger environmental concern. At a Basile, Louisiana The nearest larger hospitals are about Center is near the town of Basile — z HIDING SYMPTOMS, SHARING time when the nation and the world should be reducing their 40 miles away in Alexandria. population 1,700. BATHROOMS carbon footprint, the new Trump standard would do just One nurse at Rapides Regional Medical About 40 minutes away is the Pine The Catahoula Correctional Center S immigration offi cials Center in Alexandria said she worried Prairie Processing Center, in another near Harrisonburg, Louisiana houses the opposite. It would lead to release of nearly a billion more say they have a plan if about the threat of an outbreak at a small community. a daily average of 500 detainees — just tonnes of planet-warming carbon dioxide, the New York detention centres get hit with prison or detention centre when she Together, the centres house an average outside a town of 330 residents. Times reports. Ucoronavirus outbreaks: They recently saw a man fl anked by two guards of 1,300 detainees. Four detainees at the centre told But that’s not surprising will transfer detainees with serious in the hospital’s Covid-19 unit. The two facilities, along with the Jena Reuters that some immigrants have The Trump for a president who has symptoms to hospitals with “expertise in “We don’t have enough staff or detention centre, are run by Geo Group, a hidden symptoms of illness to avoid rolled back more than high risk care.” equipment to handle something like private company contracting with ICE. being isolated in the same solitary administration But many centres — each housing that,” the nurse said, noting that workers About halfway between the two confi nement cells the centre uses for 90 environmental rules hundreds of people, often in close have been duct-taping the door frames detention facilities is the Savoy Medical punishment. last week rolled since he took offi ce; is quarters — are located in remote of makeshift isolation rooms. “It’s Centre — with just 10 intensive-care Alfonso Diaz, a 58-year-old asylum pulling the country out of communities, far from hospitals able to already chaotic.” beds and 6 ventilators, said chief seeker from Cuba with heart problems, back one of the Paris climate accord, handle a rush of patients with Covid-19. Six ICE detainees — fi ve in New Jersey executive Gene Burge. said he shares a dorm with 100 other making the United States Detention centre outbreaks in and one in Arizona — have tested positive An outbreak “would be overwhelming men, all sleeping in three-tier bunk beds America’s most such areas could quickly swamp local for the disease, along with fi ve ICE for an area like this,” Burge said. and sharing four toilets and six showers. the only one of nearly hospitals, threatening their ability staff ers, working in detention centres z ‘TICKING TIME BOMB’ He said guards do not wear protective important eff orts 200 signatory nations to to treat local residents along with in New Jersey, Texas and Colorado, and ICE facilities have in-house medical gear and told the detainees to ignore withdraw; and vacillates detainees. two employees of privately run detention care, but available services and news about the virus. to slow climate on climate change between About a third of the 43,000 centres, according to ICE and the private equipment vary widely, said Scott Allen, Scott Sutterfi eld, a spokesman for the calling it “an expensive immigrants in detention as of March operators. a doctor and Department of Homeland private company LaSalle Corrections change 2 were housed at facilities that have One of the employees worked at Security consultant who has inspected that runs Catahoula said that it has hoax” and a “serious only one hospital — or none — with Stewart Detention Centre in Lumpkin, detention centres. implemented a pandemic contingency subject” that’s “very important to me.” intensive-care beds within 25 miles, Georgia, which housed more than 1,500 Some rural centres have one person plan at its facilities, which includes For Trump, this is the culmination of a two-stage according to a Reuters analysis of data detainees as of early March. providing medical services, a problem screening, testing, treatment and dismantling of the fuel standards. Last year, the from the American Hospital Directory ICE spokespeople said the agency has if that caregiver gets ill, Allen said in a infection-control measures. administration issued rules stripping California and and US Immigration and Customs a detailed pandemic response plan and is March 19 letter he wrote with another Sutterfi eld did not respond to the Enforcement (ICE). The seven sites following the US doctor to the US Congress. specifi c concerns of the detainees other states of their ability to stick with the tougher with no such hospitals nearby held Centers for Disease Control protocols Local hospitals would be unable to interviewed by Reuters or answer standards, which were hammered out between the Obama a total of about 5,000 detainees, for testing and monitoring the disease. provide ventilators to both detainees questions about limited hospital capacity administration, auto manufacturers and this state’s air according to the analysis, which The agency said it would focus and local residents, the letter warned, nearby. regulators. examined centres that averaged 100 or enforcement actions on the most serious causing people from both groups to “die The Catahoula facility is about 40 California, which for half a century has led the way on more detainees. criminals during the pandemic and unnecessarily.” minutes away from River Correctional The shortage of available care is seek alternatives to detention when Five detainees inside the South Center, another new ICE site housing fi ghting air pollution, seeks to stick with its current rules. especially acute in Louisiana, according appropriate. Louisiana centre, which houses more detainees in Ferriday, Louisiana. The state was part of the negotiations for the Obama-era to interviews with local health workers, By the end of March, the number of than 670 men and women, said in The two locations average about 900 standards because it had a federal waiver under the 1970 hospital administrators and current and immigrants in custody nationally had interviews that the conditions inside detainees combined. Clean Air Act allowing it to set tougher standards than those former detention-centre employees. fallen to about 35,600, according to the centre don’t allow them to protect The nearest hospital to both centres of the nation. Twelve other states and Washington, DC, had The administration of President ICE, but the agency could not provide themselves by, for instance, frequently is the tiny Riverland Medical Centre in Donald Trump has quadrupled the updated data by facility. washing their hands or maintaining Ferriday. federal authority to follow California’s lead. number of detainees in the state — to ICE spokesman Bryan Cox said social distance. The centre has fi ve intensive care beds Consequently, California’s standards covered nearly 35% nearly 7,000 — as part of a larger that examining hospital resources They said they each only recently but is only staff ed for two critically ill of cars sold in the United States. State Attorney General immigration crackdown. near Louisiana detention centres is received a miniature bar of soap and have patients. Xavier Becerra sued last year to try to keep California’s And Louisiana hospitals are already “speculative” because there are currently not been provided cleaning products. Patients could also be sent to Merit waiver and now plans to sue to block last week’s rollback of straining to handle one of the world’s no confi rmed Covid-19 cases at ICE Daimy Garcia, 28, an asylum seeker Health Natchez, in nearby Mississippi, fastest-growing coronavirus outbreaks. facilities there. from Cuba, said more detainees have which had 15 intensive care beds as of last the federal standards. The closest hospital to four of the Cox and ICE spokeswoman Danielle been recently transferred into her unit, year, according to federal records. Meanwhile, California has cut its own deal with car Louisiana sites — which together house Bennett said they did not know how making social distancing harder. Natchez is also home to a facility manufacturers. Ford, Honda, Volkswagen and BMW have an average of 3,700 detainees — is Winn many coronavirus tests ICE has She said her unit now holds more that recently started housing 1,000 ICE agreed with the state to standards that are much closer to Parish Medical Center, which has just 46 administered, in Louisiana or nationally, than 70 women from Cameroon, China, detainees. those set by the Obama administration than those in the beds and fi ve intensive-care beds. and could not say whether the agency Brazil, Cuba, Mexico and Central Blane Mire, a doctor at Merit Health, Such tiny rural facilities would be tracks that information. America. said on a March 26 call with town Trump mandate. forced to send patients to a handful of z OUTBREAK ‘WOULD BE “This is a ticking time bomb,” Garcia offi cials that his hospital was low on Americans who care about stemming climate change and larger regional hospitals. OVERWHELMING’ said. medicine and protective gear and full of looking beyond the current existential pandemic crisis have Doctors and nurses at both the small Public health experts say the risks to Pablo Paez, a spokesman for Geo coronavirus patients — three of them on two courses of action: They can vote with their pocketbooks and larger hospitals said that a severe detention centres are serious. Group said such allegations were ventilators. when they go car shopping and they can vote for responsible outbreak at even one detention centre Carlos Franco-Paredes — an infectious “unfounded” and “being instigated by With hospitals in major urban centres could overwhelm their ability to respond. disease doctor in Colorado who has outside groups with political agendas.” also in need of supplies, he said, rural leadership in November. One of the four centres, for example, worked in detention centres — said He said all the company’s facilities areas could be left behind. In the end, money talks and elections matter. - Tribune is LaSalle ICE Processing Center in Jena, an outbreak in a population of 1,500 provide access to regular handwashing As Mire put it: “Natchez isn’t going to News Service Louisiana — among the nation’s largest detainees could require between 150 and and 24/7 access to healthcare. be on the priority list.” - Reuters

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Migrants detained in an ICE detention facility in Basile, rural Louisiana, US, display signs related to coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in this combination of screenshots taken © 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved during a video conferencing call. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 7, 2020 19 COMMENT The moral consequences of Covid-19

with state planning. This new wave in the world do not have enough and ethical worth. Citizens have towards human and global interests. of capitalism radically changed food to lead a healthy and active life. inevitably become “consumers”, Covid-19 made it clear that state-society relations. Additionally, the World Bank and the and our senses have been severely we have been looking for quick Today, we are witnessing a call World Health Organisation predict impaired due to us defining value fixes to inherent human needs for global moral responsibility to that about half the world lacks access with reference to how much we and problems. We have been mitigate the needs of those who to essential health services. The “can” consume. We started to define prioritising materialistic concerns fell victim to Covid-19. Yet, we lesson here is that the losses of the academic success based on the over moral ones. We have been are seeking strong and “caring” victims of neoliberalism outweigh way we make commercial value out resorting to Band-Aids to mitigate governments to cure the masses, others because of the declining state of it. “Development” has became global problems. Today, we are provide resources, and rectify losses. capacities since the 1970s. synonymous with “financial wealth”. facing one harsh reality – we have The “#StayHome” hashtag has Covid-19 is a reminder for us to Excessive reliance on material gain reached an impasse. We need a new grown in popularity as it encourages think about those who do not have resulted in anomalies such as market beginning, and humanity needs an (or rather puts pressure on) the the privilege to “stay at home” and fetishism. epiphany; in Her Highness’ words, global community to reduce the remain safe under lockdown. To What humanity needs is for the a “breakthrough”, a paradigm shift chances of virus transmission. This support this reminder, several social people of the world to become that will help us “come back to our hashtag aims to remind members media posts appear to tackle these “citizen pilgrims”, which is a term senses”. of the community to look after one exact issues. For example, several that Dr Richard Falk, a professor another other and refrain from self- posts have read: “Dear world, how at Princeton University, referred z This article has been co- centred activities. No matter how is the lockdown? – Kashmir”, “Dear to in one of his recent speeches at authored by M Evren Tok, an desperately someone “wants” to go world, how are the travel bans? – Hamad Bin Khalifa University about assistant dean of innovation and out and visit friends, or go shopping, Palestine”, “Dear World, how is the bringing communities together to community engagement at the they need to realise that they would fear? – Uyghur, China” and “Dear work for a better future for all. A College of Islamic Studies and Bayan be putting everyone else at risk. But world, how is separation from loved ‘citizen pilgrim’, as he defined, “is Khaled, a research fellow at the although the hashtag was founded ones? – Syria” These few examples a person with a trusting faith in the College of Islamic Studies at Hamad on moral principles and as a vehicle highlight that those of us who live unseen yet desired end of human Bin Khalifa University. for ethical responsibility, it doesn’t fearlessly and comfortably under endeavours. Such a person engages take into account that it is only normal, day-to-day circumstances in struggle and conceives of his z This article is submitted on By M Evren Tok and Bayan Khaled applicable to those who actually should never take our lives for or her life as a spiritual journey or behalf of the author by the HBKU Doha have a “home”. What about those granted. Other social media pilgrimage toward a better future.” Communications Directorate. The who have nowhere to go? Or those reminders have read: “To those who Only with this mindset would we views expressed are the author’s own with no resources to sustain for a now have 28 bags of pasta. To those be able to establish a path that and do not necessarily reflect the ver the past 50 years, necessities a departure from the couple of weeks? searching the black market for hand is genuinely devoted to working University’s official stance. we have been witness- physical and social effects of the If you are reading this, you are sanitiser. To those fighting over ing a commodification disease, one example of which is the likely lucky enough to have a place toilet rolls. And to those planning O of almost every aspect of global moral panic it has caused. where you can self-isolate, and most to flee out of a coronavirus infected life. The privatisation of education, To do so, we should refer to Her likely with loved ones. Whether you area: Never again look down on About Hamad Bin Khalifa University healthcare, security, water, elec- Highness Sheikha Moza’s bint are alone or with family, you may people who flee war and famine.” tricity, and nearly everything else Nasser’s recent post on Instagram, also have the luxury of watching Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Innovating Today, Shaping Tomorrow became our daily reality. Moreover, which calls on everyone to realise Netflix or reading a book in the Nasser’s message encourages us to each global crisis in the past 50 years the depth and longevity of the crisis comfort of your own home as you question the assumptions we have Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), ity through an enriching academic was politically used to legitimise we are in. wait this period out. been taking for granted for a long a member of Qatar Foundation for experience, innovative ecosystem, and further ascendancy of markets and Since the 1970s, states around the According to research conducted time. The existing discrepancies, Education, Science, and Community unique partnerships. HBKU delivers depict a situation of decreasing state world have been pursuing neoliberal by Yale University, it is believed that asymmetries, and inequalities Development (QF), was founded in multidisciplinary undergraduate and capacity. Yet, paradoxically, govern- policies that see competition as at least 150mn people in the world humanity caused in the past 50 2010 as a research-intensive university graduate programmes through its ments continue to be portrayed as central to the organisation of social are homeless while 1.6bn others years in terms of access to basic that acts as a catalyst for transforma- colleges, and provides opportunities saviours in such instances. and economic relations. It was lack adequate housing. Moreover, as human needs, education, health, tive change in Qatar and the region for research and scholarship through Today, we are facing yet another assumed that free and unregulated cities continue to grow, so does the and work have led to many of us while having global impact. Located in its institutes and centres. For more global crisis with Covid-19, and markets would deliver the most trajectory for the homeless. Based being subjected to judgement, or Education City, HBKU is committed to information about HBKU, visit www. we need to begin working towards optimal allocation of resources – on research made available by the action being taken based on one’s building and cultivating human capac- hbku.edu.qa recovery. Full-fledged recovery allocation that can never be achieved Food Aid Foundation, 795mn people material worth rather than moral Why sweetened layoff benefi ts may Three-day forecast

TODAY Maximum Temperature : 350c be at odds with US loan programme Minimum Temperature : 240c WEDNESDAY Maximum Temperature : 350c Minimum Temperature : 260c Reuters low-cost loans that the government says would have been to compensate a Companies, which owns the VIDA Washington/San Francisco will be forgiven if employers keep people percentage of wages lost, based on a gym chain as well as Bang Salons in THURSDAY on their payroll through the end of June. person’s previous salary, but at a much Washington DC, said he plans to apply Maximum Temperature : 350c But businesses are already grappling higher rate than during normal times. for the SBA loan, while still pursuing Minimum Temperature : 260c he generous US unemployment with a tricky equation: which route is They point to European programmes, layoff s for employees who would be Fisherman's forecast benefi ts rolled out to blunt best for them and their employees? such as in the UK, where the better off going on unemployment the economic harm caused by “Unemployment insurance, at least government has said it will pay 80% benefi ts than continue to get his Tthe coronavirus could have an short term, is quite generous so the fi rms of workers’ salaries for fi rms that keep paychecks. WARNING unintended eff ect: it may actually be may decide that that’s a better way to them on. “Under this scenario, we would Inshore : Nil an incentive for companies to choose go,” said former Federal Reserve Chair Outdated computer systems made continue to pay the health insurance of layoff s rather than keep staff on their Janet Yellen at a Brookings Institute it too diffi cult for states to individually these employees and bring them back as Offshore : Nil books. event earlier this week. calculate diff erent payments per US soon as we reopen,” he said. WEATHER That’s at odds with a government- Employers have to weigh up the cost worker. It also depends on how long The so-called Paycheck Protection Inshore : Relatively hot daytime backed loan forgiveness programme set to them of keeping their businesses open businesses think the lockdown orders with some clouds, mild to launch for small and medium-sized even if they have limited or no revenue Programme, administered by the Small will last, and whether the economic by night . fi rms that opt against job cuts, so long versus at least some of their workers Business Administration (SBA), is aimed damage will dampen demand even when WIND as the bulk of the money is used to keep temporarily earning more by seeking at keeping businesses with less than they can re-open. Inshore : Northwesterly 05-15 KT staff on at full salary. unemployment benefi ts. 500 employees from having to fi re their “If their business hasn’t dried up The number of Americans fi ling for A blanket provision of a $600 weekly employees. completely right now, then the incentive Offshore : Northwesterly-South- unemployment benefi ts last week shot unemployment benefi t on top of each Lenders have said they have been to jump through the hoops to get a loan westerly 05-15 /18 KT up to more than 6mn, a record high, state’s replacement rate of lost wages, inundated as businesses seek a slice is much stronger,” said David Wilcox, Visibility : 4-8 KM Labour Department data on Thursday which averages about 45% up to a of the initial tranche of $350bn the US former head of the Federal Reserve’s showed. certain salary cap, was implemented by government has set aside. research and statistics division, now at Offshore : 2-4/5 FT Millions more are set to claim in the Congress to quickly make more workers Each loan is capped at $10mn and will the Peterson Institute for International coming weeks as major parts of the whole on their lost paychecks. be distributed on a fi rst-come, fi rst- Economics. Around the region United States economy remain shut Though benefi ts vary by state, the served basis. That uncertainty is making fi rms Weather Weather down until the death toll from the virus average unemployment benefi t plus Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin “stressed” about what is the best today Max/min tomorrow Max/min shows signs of abating. the $600 pandemic payout exceeds the said on Thursday the enhanced option for both their business as well as M Cloudy 31/18 Cloudy 30/18 The CARES Act passed by Congress weekly median pay of $933. unemployment benefi ts are targeted at employees in the short term, said Holly Baghdad M Sunny 34/23 M Sunny 31/22 a week ago was designed to keep Perhaps 56mn or more workers would workers laid off from bigger companies Wade, director of research for the National Kuwait City P Cloudy 32/24 M Sunny 35/26 businesses and workers from economic be better off temporarily receiving that can’t aff ord to pay them and don’t Federation of Independent Businesses, Manama Sunny 32/24 Sunny 33/26 freefall. unemployment benefi ts than staying on have access to the loan programme. which represents hundreds of thousands Muscat Rain 14/09 Showers 12/05 For workers losing their jobs, the job, Labour Department data shows. Small businesses, including of small and mid-size fi rms. Tehran an unprecedented expansion in Chief among them are retail and food restaurants, would want to take the It’s one thing for those fi rms to take unemployment benefi ts until the end of service industry employees, who have loans because they will cover not just out the loan and then business picks up July was put in place. already been hard-hit by states putting payroll but also overhead like rent and after two months, according to Wade. On Friday millions of fi rms are in place “stay at home” orders. utilities, he said. The bigger issue is if demand expected to apply to lenders approved by Many economists say a better David von Storch, president deteriorates, and they have to close. the Small Business Administration for designed unemployment programme and founder of Urban Adventures “That’s a huge concern,” she said. Live issues

After the virus: What world will we live in? Around the world Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min AFP Financial markets may never recover to the storm, and the performance of protections, the resulting deprivation Athens Showers 13/09 Cloudy 14/09 Paris pre-crisis levels. governments in tackling the threat. risks driving people onto the street. Beirut P Cloudy 19/13 M Sunny 19/13 Restrictions on movement will China, where the virus is believed to Countries like Russia and Turkey will Bangkok P Cloudy 35/28 M Sunny 34/28 help some governments tighten have originated, proudly claims to have be hoping that their measures will be Berlin M Sunny 19/07 Sunny 22/08 ne day, the battle against the autocratic control, and civil liberties quelled the outbreak. enough to spare them the worst of the Cairo M Sunny 26/13 M Sunny 24/14 novel coronavirus will be won. could be eroded in the name of gaining US President Donald Trump initially virus. Cape Town M Sunny 17/11 P Cloudy 21/12 But the world that emerges information on virus spread. appeared to shrug off the seriousness of But to battle the outbreak, even Colombo P Cloudy 31/26 P Cloudy 31/26 may look very diff erent from Many are already questioning the the threat and is now faced with a full- the most democratic societies have Dhaka Sunny 39/24 P Cloudy 38/25 O 22/20 P Cloudy 22/20 the one we lived in before the pandemic merit of multilateral organisations such scale crisis. had to restrict civil liberties on an Hong Kong M Cloudy began. as the WHO or the United Nations given While the offi cial fi gures from India unprecedented scale and bid farewell Istanbul Cloudy 12/08 Cloudy 11/07 Over 60,000 people have lost their the perceived lack of a co-ordinated, remain far less grim than in the West, to border-free travel for the foreseeable Jakarta T Storms 31/24 T Storms 31/24 lives to Covid-19 and there are a more global response to an unprecedented there is anxiety that much worse is to future. Karachi P Cloudy 34/22 Sunny 33/23 than a million confi rmed cases with the health crisis. come. “All the global elite who had lectured London M Sunny 20/09 P Cloudy 22/10 outbreak yet to reach its peak across the The changes could be immense, say “Is this leadership or absence of for a long time about liberalism and Manila M Sunny 35/26 M Sunny 34/26 developed and emerging world. analysts, but also unpredictable. leadership going to provide opportunities globalisation were the fi rst to close their Moscow M Sunny 12/05 Cloudy 12/01 But on top of the tragic human “Is it going to be a headline or is or vulnerabilities to various countries borders,” pointed out Bakary Sambe, New Delhi M Sunny 35/20 Sunny 33/18 toll, the coronavirus also threatens it a trendline?” asked Aaron David around the world?” asked Miller. director of the Timbuktu Institute in New York P Cloudy 18/11 Showers 17/08 incalculable social, economic and Miller, Senior Fellow at the Carnegie The world’s wealthiest powers enjoy Dakar. Paris P Cloudy 23/09 M Sunny 24/11 political costs, and to trigger a wave of Endowment for International Peace. a cushion that will allow them to keep Pratap Bhanu Mehta, professor of Sao Paulo Showers 23/17 Cloudy 20/14 change that will shape our world for “Are we witnessing an event that is the economy ticking over during the political sciences at India’s Ashoka Seoul P Cloudy 18/03 Sunny 15/02 years to come. going to reshape international relations crisis, to compensate workers laid off , University, said there risked being Singapore S T Storms 32/27 T Storms 32/27 The shutdown imposed to slow the and relations among states?” and to resume economic activity quickly confl icts over trading systems. Sydney P Cloudy 19/14 Showers 19/16 spread of the virus could push some Much will depend on how long afterwards. “There is a potential to accelerate Tokyo Clear 16/09 Clear 21/09 economies into full-scale meltdown. national economies manage to withstand But in poorer countries with no such deglobalisation in the wake of the crisis.” Gulf Times 20 Tuesday, April 7, 2020 QATAR

Aspetar launches coronavirus resource platform for athletes

spetar, Qatar’s orthopae- dic and sports medicine Ahospital, has announced the launch of its Covid-19 Evi- dence for Athletes Service — a unique platform under its offi cial website. Available in full in English and soon in Arabic the web platform will provide athletes and those in- volved in athlete healthcare with evidence-based information on the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, according to a state- ment. The Aspetar Covid-19 Evi- dence for Athletes Service is a fi rst of its kind aimed specifi - cally at athletes, their healthcare teams, coaches and the broader Aspetar director general Aspetar’s Medical Education sports community. It provides Mohamed Khalifa al-Suwaidi. director Dr Paul Dijkstra. them with easy access to relevant and reliable information based on The newly opened road and intersection will provide easy access to the Al Sailiya Central Market. the latest scientifi c evidence. This is done through a new stream- lined and modern webpage with improved functionality. This easy access to essential and up-to- date information will help ath- letes and their healthcare practi- tioners to make wiser and more informed decisions. Upgraded road to A key feature is an athletes’ questions section with short an- swers provided by the evidence team, which will be soon available in more than 15 diff erent languag- es. Each question and answer is Covid-19 Evidence for Athletes Service website gateway. supported by an infographic fea- facilitate access to turing the ‘bottom-line’ answer. that precautionary measures are fake news, causing fear and anxi- Aspetar is working closely with taken to limit the spread of the ety.” He added: “We are privileged many international sports medi- new coronavirus. to have Professor Mike Clarke in- cine associations to share the “These measures are being in- volved. He is the Research Direc- translated answers with their ath- troduced by the High Committee tor for Evidence Aid and one of its letes. The other sections include for Crisis Management in Qa- founders. Evidence Aid is dedi- educational material, relevant tar, in line with the advice of the cated to making evidence avail- Al Sailiya Market scientifi c papers, other relevant World Health Organisation and able to people dealing with disas- resources, as well as an interac- reliable international medical or- ters and emergencies. We hope to he Public Works Author- structed 2.1km street, which tive section that allows athletes to ganisations.” extend this collaboration to other ity (Ashghal) has an- leads to Al Sailiya Central Mar- share their questions and stories The online Aspetar Covid-19 national and international or- Tnounced the completion ket’s truck parking. with the multidisciplinary evi- Evidence for Athletes Service ganisations and sports medicine of development works on a road The improvement works in- dence team. provides a wealth of information federations.” and an intersection within the cluded construction of a 2.3km This new and comprehensive about exercise and fi tness, as well In responding to the pandemic, Road Improvement Works in Al section of Al Sailiya Road that Aspetar service bring athletes as on dealing with the psycholog- Aspetar has produced a variety of Rayyan Area – Phase 5 Project. links the new traffic signal to Al and sports medicine and science ical stress of staying at home, and education materials through its According to an official Majd Road to provide access to experts from all over the world to- maintaining the physical distanc- offi cial online channels and social statement, the road and the in- the market via the exit located gether in a unique and innovative ing required to curb the spread of media platforms, playing a piv- tersection are now fully open to at Al Sailiya Road. way to help tackle the Covid-19 the coronavirus. otal role in educating athletes on traffic. This opening also coincides pandemic and its consequences. Messages stress the important how to deal with this pandemic. This recent upgrade will help with the opening of Al Sailiya Mohamed Khalifa al-Suwaidi, role of healthy sleep and nutrition A consistent message to athletes facilitate access to the Al Saili- Central Market. The new road Aspetar director general, said: to protect the immune system. is the importance of taking ad- ya Central Market and it comes and junction will serve the “We are thrilled to launch our Dr Paul Dijkstra, director of equate preventive measures to as part of Ashghal’s plan to im- market’s visitors and more than new web platform to our partners: Medical Education at Aspetar, protect and maintain their own prove the efficiency of the ex- 200 commercial outlets. athletes and experts. This shows said: “Athletes — like all of us — health and that of the broader so- isting junctions and local road The openings will also fa- Aspetar’s commitment to provide are dealing with a unique situa- ciety. network. cilitate truck traffic towards Al reliable information to athletes tion, their training and competi- Aspetar is a world leading spe- Engineer Fahd Mohamed al- Majd Road. Works also includ- through our channels of commu- tion schedules are disrupted, and cialised orthopaedic and sports Otaibi, head of Western Areas ed lighting and road markings nication, and with our partners in it is unclear how long this might medicine hospital, and the fi rst Section in the Roads Projects as well as other road elements the sports and health sector. last. of its kind in the Middle East. Department, said that the re- to improve traffic safety. “We are addressing the issues Another challenge is the huge Since 2007, with a world expert cently completed works under As part of the Road Improve- of interest to athletes around the amount of information that is team, the hospital has provided this project comprise construc- ment Works in Rayyan Area connect the local sewerage also included the construction world, as well as sharing their sto- available. Although much of this top-level comprehensive medi- tion of a new signalised junc- – Phase 5 Project, Ashghal plant with Al Sailiya main road of a two-lane road and storm ries and experiences during the information is reliable, it can be cal treatment to all athletes in a tion at Al Sailiya Road, aimed at completed the construction of used by around 2,500-3,000 water drainage. Street lighting coronavirus outbreak. At Aspetar, hard to understand or is irrel- state-of-the-art facility that sets connecting it to the newly con- 2.2km of roads that serve and tankers a day. Project works works are currently underway. we are doing all we can to ensure evant. And, sadly, much is also new standards internationally. More local farms to sell their Strict measures in place at Qatar’s ports

wani Qatar has put in produce at Al Mazrouah Yard place a number of pre- Mcautionary and preven- tive measures against Covid-19, he products of 18 more He also affi rmed the develop- to be open for the public all days directed and overseen by the local farms will be on ment works such as installing of the week. The total sales at Ministry of Transport and Com- Tdisplay at Al Mazrouah shades and the display counters these yards amounted to around munications (MoTC). At the Yard for selling local agricul- have started at Al Mazrouah to 850 tonnes a week. The offi cial same time, the company has tural products, which is open prepare it to receive the prod- expects a considerable increase seen “record productivity rates” throughout the week, local Ara- ucts of the new farms. of sales within the coming pe- in the fi rst quarter of 2020 and bic daily Arrayah reported yes- The MME has always been riod to hit more 4,000 tonnes maintains “strong growth in op- terday. keen to increase local produc- a month. He said that the yards erations”, MoTC has stressed in a Abdulrahman al-Sulaiti, gen- tion in addition to diversify- staying open all days will be fur- post on Twitter. eral supervisor of the Ministry ing the types of products while thered assessed to plan for fu- An infographic lists the meas- of Municipality and Environ- ensuring the highest quality ture expansion in addition to the ures taken at ports around the ment’s (MME) Yards for selling and ensuring they are free from regular maintenance works. The country to protect against Cov- local agriculture products, said pesticides. Al-Sulaiti stressed yards are currently open daily id-19. Mwani Qatar maintains that among the plans to develop that the current season is con- from 7am-3pm. ongoing communication with Al Mazrouah yard is to add six sidered the largest regarding the The products are sold at rea- the Ministry of Public Health more farms to it next season, participating number of farms sonable prices and lower than (MoPH), General Authority of taking to 42 the total number of besides having a high rate of at many other outlets, the daily Customs (GAC) and entities op- participating farms. sales as the fi ve yards continued added. erating at the ports. A file picture of Hamad Port. The other key measures are as follows: the last 10 ports a vessel has vis- „ Fewer workers at ports while ited. Combating Covid-19 securing business continuity. „ Keeping the vessel in a safe „ Seafarers banned from zone in case any seafarer shows Q Fewer workers at ports while securing business continuity. docking at the quay; seafarer (Covid-19) symptoms. Q Seafarers banned from docking at quay; seafarer change also banned. change also banned at the coun- „ Continuous port security Q Sanitising port facilities and distributing protective gear. try’s ports. patrols, with no one allowed to Q Work suspended until further notice at Doha Port, except for flour „ Meetings held via confer- board a vessel. mills quay. ence calls and by working re- „ Round-the-clock monitor- Q Round-the-clock monitoring of workers’ health status at Hamad Port. motely. ing of workers’ health status and Q Informing MoPH about the last 10 ports visited by a vessel. „ Staff who have come from sub-grouping them. Q Ruwais Port receiving only reefer and livestock vessels. abroad are seen by healthcare „ Shutting down some build- authorities. ings, such as cafeterias, and ban- „ Awareness sessions and ning visits. periodicals on health and safety Doha Port measures. „ Work temporarily suspend- Q1 2020 performance „ Sanitising port facilities and ed until further notice except for Q 801 vessels distributing facemasks, sanitis- the fl our mills quay. Q335,928 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containers ers and gloves. Ruwais Port Q 274,404 tonnes of general cargo Besides the above-mentioned „ Discontinued receiving Q218,829 livestock heads measures, some port-specifi c wooden ships. Q 20,476 roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) units steps have also been taken. These „ Receiving only reefer and Q 81,822 tonnes of building materials are: livestock ships. Hamad Port „ Tightening building access „ Ship agents submitting measures. For instance, the ports han- riod. They also handled 218,829 medical certifi cations issued by The infographic also highlights dled 801 vessels, 335,928 TEUs livestock heads, 20,476 roll-on/ the IMO (International Maritime the impressive performance of (twenty-foot equivalent units) of roll-off (RoRo) units and 81,822 Organisation). the ports in the fi rst quarter of containers and 274,404 tonnes tonnes of building materials in Some of the stalls at Al Mazrouah Yard in February this year. PICTURE: Ram Chand „ Informing the MoPH about 2020. of general cargo during this pe- the same period.