Ministry Of Finance Announces Compliance Relief
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced several compliance deadline extensions. Many deadlines as of March 31 have been extended to June 30. She also confirmed a relief package in the pipeline, stating it will come "sooner than later"
Mumbai Reports One More Death
A 65-year-old male with travel history to UAE and Ahmedabad was admitted to Kasturba Hospital on March 23, 2020 passed away late evening on March 23, 2020 and tested positive for COVID-19 after his death. He had a medical history of hypertension and uncontrolled diabetes, reported Mumbai health officials. The man who resided in Dubai had travelled from Dubai to Ahmedabad on March 15 and came to Mumbai on March 20, 2020.
He is the 3rd COVID-19 positive death in Mumbai and Maharashtra. The person who died on March 23, 2020 had recovered from COVID-19 and passed away due to other morbidities.
Spending Of CSR Funds For COVID-19 Is CSR Activity: FM
The Finance Minister tweeted that companies spending CSR funds for COVID-19 activities such as disaster management, prevention and healthcare and sanitation are eligible as CSR activity. This move is expected to benefit local communities. The law requires companies with turnovers above ₹1,000 crores or a net worth of atleast ₹500 crores or net profit of ₹5 crores to spend 2% of their net profit on CSR.
In view of the spread of novel #CoronaVirus in India, its declaration as pandemic by the WHO, and decision of Government of India to treat this as notified disaster, it is hereby clarified that spending of CSR funds for COVID-19 is eligible CSR activity. #IndiaFightCorona pic.twitter.com/XQneNBaJe8
— NSitharamanOffice (@nsitharamanoffc) March 23, 2020
PM Modi To Address Nation At 8
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing the nation at 8 PM on March 24, 2020 to speak about the menace of the COVID-19.
This will be the Prime Minister's second address to the nation pertaining to the disease. He had earlier addressed the country on March 19, 2020 where he asked the nation to abide the "Janata curfew" on Sunday, March 22
वैश्विक महामारी कोरोना वायरस के बढ़ते प्रकोप के संबंध में कुछ महत्वपूर्ण बातें देशवासियों के साथ साझा करूंगा। आज, 24 मार्च रात 8 बजे देश को संबोधित करूंगा।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 24, 2020
Will address the nation at 8 PM today, 24th March 2020, on vital aspects relating to the menace of COVID-19.
ICMR Publishes Mathematical Model For Tackling Coronavirus
The Indian Council of Medical Research has published a paper on the public health interventions strategies to control the COVID-19 transmission in India using a mathematical model.
This study mentions port of entry based screening for modestly delaying the introduction of the virus in the community. However, this alone is not sufficient and quarantining of symptomatic as well as asymptomatic individuals. This model has its limitations but suggests such interventions along with proactively engaging with the the health and medical officials, community and the media to delay and control the spread of the disease.
Mumbai Police Commissioner Calls Milk And Grocery Timing Message Fake
A viral message circulating on WhatsApp stating that the Mumbai Chief of Police has asked milk and grocery shops to distribute items only in the early hours of the morning is fake.
The chief of police has said that the list has not been made by him.
The message reads:
" Dates & timings for distributions of :
(1) MILK- From Morning 6 a.m to 8 a.m.(daily)
(2) NEWS PAPERS - Upto 7 a.m (daily)
(3) VEGETABLES, KIRANA & MEDICAL SHOPS : From Morning 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. ( on 24/26/28 & 30 March only)
By Order of Mumbai Police Commissioner"
Fact Check
The Mumbai Chief of Police took to Twitter to debunk this claim.
He stated that there is no such rule and that this list has not been compiled under his directions.
Namaste, I’m the Commissioner of @MumbaiPolice & this list has definitely not been made on my directions! The last thing we want to get infected with & pass on during such crisis is rumours. Pls verify every msg regarding emergency services before you forward #StaySafeFromRumours pic.twitter.com/UO4y3gY1dm
— CP Mumbai Police (@CPMumbaiPolice) March 24, 2020
(Editor's Note: The previous update incorrectly mentioned Sanjay Barve as the police commissioner, the error is regretted.)
Reliance Industries Pledges Support
Reliance Group of Industries, have come forth and decided to assist the Government in fighting COVID-19.
The company has donated funds, is setting up isolation facilities, producing personal protective equipment for health workers, improving internet facilities and using the foundation to help NGOs deliver food.
Manipur Reports First Case
A 23-year-old youth had returned home from UK and has tested positive for COVID-19 in Manipur making this the state and the north-east reogion's first case
She is currently undergoing treatment at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) hospital in Imphal.
Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra Take India's Cases To 492
The Indian Union Health Ministry has confirmed 492 positive cases and 9 deaths with 34 recoveries in the country as of March 24, 2020.
Kerala with 95 cases surpassed Maharashtra's 87. Karnataka's cases increased to 37.
India Reports 468 Cases
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has reported 468 positive cases and 9 deaths as of March 23, 2020.
The State and the District details have not yet been updated.