AGARTALA, April 22 (TIWN): COVID19 2nd phase nationwide Lockdown was observed on Day-8 here in Tripura under heavy security and tight checking. State Home Ministry has instructed Police Dept to keep tight watch on the public/vehicle movement to ensure no violation of social distancing. But, amid Govt made masks mandatory, lots of public were seen traveling without masks, led markets to hold banners like “No Mask, No Vegetables”, just like fuel pumps also stamped “No Mask, No Petrol” banners throughout state. In Agartala SP West Manik Das led massive drive was held to check gathering and also action has been taken against Lockdown violators. Tripura which was tested with two COVID19 Positive cases is no almost set to get COVID-free status. Border areas also have been tightened in the state covering neighboring country and states’ border areas. Centre already has praised Tripura and Assam for lockdown implementation. Out of two cases tested positive, one person was released from the hospital, whereas another is fit, to be released soon. Prime Minister Modi will be interacting with Chief Ministers of all states on April 27. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has earlier already participated in two such conferences to discuss the coronavirus pandemic and the steps being taken to arrest the spread of the virus.

In the last interaction on April 11, several chief ministers had recommended extension of the 21-day lockdown by two weeks, which was slated to end on April 14 earlier.On April 14, Modi announced that the lockdown is being extended till May 3.Before the lockdown was announced on March 24, Modi had interacted with the chief ministers on March 20 to discuss ways and means to check the spread of coronavirus.

National report on COVID19 disease treatment and cures, deaths : The Union Health Ministry on Wednesday said the total of coronavirus cases in the country is 20,471 with 1,383 fresh cases reported in the past 24 hours, along with 50 new deaths, taking the toll to 652.

According to the ministry, the recovery rate of the coronavirus is 19.36 per cent in the country. A total of 3,959 patients have been cured from the viral infection so far.

Maharashtra has 5,221 coronavirus cases, state with highest number of positive cases so far, and 251 deaths have been reported so far. Gujarat has reported 2,272 cases and 95 deaths, followed by Delhi, which has reported 2,156 cases and 47 deaths. Rajasthan has reported 1,801 cases, Tamil Nadu 1,596, Uttar Pradesh 1,412 and Madhya Pradesh 1,592 cases.

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said that it has forwarded a protocol for using rapid antibody test to all states, and reiterated that antibody rapid tests are largely to be used as a tool for surveillance. "Globally also, utility of this test is evolving and it is currently being used for detecting the formation of antibodies in individuals. These test results are also dependent on field conditions. As noted by ICMR, these tests cannot replace the RT-PCR test to diagnose COVID-19 cases," it said in a statement.

ICMR has also assured assistance to collect data from various states to assess the scope and extent of utility of these rapid antibody tests in field conditions. "ICMR shall keep advising the states on a regular basis. States have also been advised to follow the prescribed protocol for these tests and use it for the purposes for which they are meant," added the statement.