log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday TUESDAY MAY 26, 2020 8 pages PRICE ` 6 VOLUME V, NO. 337 Staying safe in the new normal 6 IN SHORT >> The Goan (Playstore) GOA Life made easy for passengers, but concerns remain over safety 2 Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 NEWS Kerala vandals on run after demolishing church movie set 7 Opener Elgar eyes South Africa Test captaincy 3 flights land at Dabolim, 12 cancelled  HUGE PRESENCE OF POLICE, HEALTH WORKERS  95 PASSENGERS ARRIVE, 229 DEPART THE GOAN I NETWORK A girl plays with pigeons amid the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown in Kolkata on Monday. ‘States can’t hire UP workers without nod’ LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that any state government which wants to employ migrant workers from his state will have to seek permission first. He did not elaborate on how UP planned to ensure that permission was taken or how it would monitor the movement of lakhs of migrant workers once the lockdown is lifted and economic activity restarts. He, however, said his government would form a migrants’ commission to help workers get employment within the state.  >> See pg 7 India increases troop strength in Ladakh NEW DELHI: As the Chinese Army has deployed over 5,000 of its troops on the Line of Actual Control at different locations in the Ladakh sector, the Indian Army is also increasing presence of its troops to match their strength and is also enhancing its presence in other areas to deter the People’s Liberation troops from carrying out transgressions in other areas. At present, the Chinese Army has diverted its troops carrying out a massive exercise on their side of the LAC and deployed them at short notice across the Line of Actual Control. 40 p.c. travel firms staring at shutdown NEW DELHI: Around 40 per cent companies operating in the travel and tourism sector are staring at the risk of complete shutdown over the next 3 to 6 months, says a report, even as the domestic flights resume operations after over 2-month suspension due to lockdown. Also, nearly 36 per cent of such companies are likely to witness a temporary shutdown. WEATHER >> Max: 35.5 C Min: 28.8 C Humidity: 75% TIDES Low: High: 06.33 19.28 13.45 ----- VASCO Domestic flight operations resumed at Dabolim airport for the first time since the nationwide lockdown, but only three flights arrived while 12 other flights were cancelled on Monday. Providing details of the first set of flights arriving in the State, Dabolim Airport Director Gagan Malik said 95 passengers arrived and 229 others left by the three flights. There was a huge presence of police and traffic officials around the airport arrival gate to monitor security arrangements and to prevent any untoward incidents. Government officials and teams from the health department were also stationed inside the airport and were monitoring the self-declaration forms and other procedures, including a decision on the quarantine of passengers as per SOP announced by the State government. According to Malik, the first IndiGo flight arrived at Da- Train passengers stamped for home quarantine Passengers arriving by a flight queue up at the Dabolim airport on Monday.  bolim Airport at around 2 pm from Bangalore with 30 passengers and returned to Bangalore with 59 passengers. Another IndiGo flight arrived from New Delhi at 3 pm with 33 passengers and returned to New Delhi with 133 passengers, while an Air Asia flight arrived from Bangalore with 32 passengers and returned to Bangalore with 37 passengers. “All protocols were meticulously followed throughout the arrival and departure of flights,” said Malik. Malik said 15 flights had been expected to arrive at Dabolim airport on Monday, but many flights from Mumbai and New Delhi were cancelled. “We were expecting many Vikram Nayak flights from Mumbai, but there has been NOTAM restrictions at Mumbai airport, implying that there would be limited arrivals and departures from Mumbai and hence, the Mumbai flights have been cancelled.” “Similarly, a few flights from New Delhi have been >Continued on P5 MARGAO: As the latest Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) came into force on Monday, passengers disembarking from the much-feared Delhi Rajdhani Express train walked out of the Margao railway station without undergoing the COVID test mandatory till Sunday and instead headed to their homes for 14 days home quarantine after being stamped on the hands by officials. As anticipated, majority of the passengers opted for home quarantine over the option of undergoing the COVID tests by paying a fee of Rs 2000. In fact, six out of the nine Delhi-Trivandrum Rajdhani Express Passengers, who disembarked at the Margao railway, straightaway headed for their homes after opting for home quarantine. The remaining three passengers, all servicemen, opted for the COVID tests. >> See pg 2 FIGURES DIFFER Health Secy Nila Mohanan informed that out of 13 flights scheduled to arrive in Goa, 10 were cancelled. 50 out of the 94 flight passengers who arrived got tested by paying Rs 2,000 instead of undergoing 14 days home quarantine. ON PAGE 3 Airport marks domestic flight resumption by inaugurating display at terminal Taximen hail flight resumption, but worry over divided business at airport MESSY START FOR FLIERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY „„532 flights take off with 39,231 passengers „„Around 630 domestic flights cancelled „„People take to social media to vent their anger „„Bookings had opened for around 1,100 domestic flights for Monday „„First flight took off from Delhi for Pune under strict regulations „„Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu were reluctant to allow flight services „„West Bengal & Andhra Pradesh governments declined Centre’s request to open up airports „„Mumbai airport officials said would handle only 50 flights daily „„Hyderabad was to handle just 30 flights daily pg 7 India now among 10 worst New guidelines bring relief to seafarers Coronavirus-hit nations THE GOAN I NETWORK POSITIVE CASES TALLY NEARING 1,40,000 PTI NEW DELHI The total number of coronavirus infections in India rose to 1,38,845 on Monday with the highest ever spike of 6,977 positive cases in the last 24 hours. With the biggest single day spike, India now has the 10th highest number of confirmed cases worldwide. With 154 deaths reported in the last 24 hours, the total number of deaths due to COVID-19 now stands at 4,021 in the country. Out of the total number of cases, 77,103 are active cases and 57,721 have been cured/ discharged/migrated. The United States leads the world with more than 1.6 million confirmed coronavirus cases, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Brazil, now Latin America’s hardest-hit country, is second, with more than 347,000 cases and more than 22,000 deaths. Third on the list is Russia, with more than 344,000 reported cases and more than 3,500 deaths. Globally, over 5.4 million people have been infected with the novel coronavirus, including 3.4 lakh deaths. Meanwhile, a total of 2,436 Another Covid +ve case in Goa PANAJI: One fresh case of Covid-19 has been confirmed on Monday taking the total number of active cases in the state to 48 and the total number of cases so far to 67. The patient has been admitted to the Covid Hospital (ESI Hospital) in Margao for medical care. Till date, 19 patients have so far been discharged from the Covid Hospital after they tested negative. They are presently under institutional quarantine at Acron Seaway Resort, Candolim. Briefing the media, Health Secretary Nila Mohanan informed that the latest patient travelled by bus from Maharashtra with another person who had tested positive a few days ago. She disclosed that two persons are presently under isolation at Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim, 183 interstate domestic travellers are under quarantine and 189 travellers are under facility quarantine. In addition to this, 644 persons are quarantined at various hotels and residencies. more people in Maharashtra have tested positive of coronavirus, taking the total count of cases in the state to 52,667. The state reported 60 deaths due to the disease on Monday. “A total of 2,436 new patients of COVID-19, 60 deaths and 1,186 discharged were recorded in Maharastra today. The total number of positive cases in the state rises to 52,667, including 1,695 deaths and 15,786 discharged,” a state Health Department release said. Lockdown ignored, locals throng Morjim beach THE GOAN I NETWORK PERNEM Social distancing and the ongoing lockdown restrictions were virtually forgotten as locals crowded at the Morjim beach on Sunday. While the Pernem coast has been largely deserted due to the ongoing lockdown, the situation was quite different on Sunday, as a large number of locals decided to spend the day at the Tembwada beach in Morjim. What surprised the lifeguards stationed at the site was that all guidelines and restrictions during the lockdown were ignored. While 8 SPORTS Locals at Tembwada beach, Morjim on Monday. people were found in groups of over four persons, many were seen without face masks and they did not maintain social distancing, as mandated by the State government. Some were even moving around with alcohol bottles and lifeguards also had a difficult time cautioning people who were found swimming deeper into the sea. In general, May is a popular period for locals to enjoy >Continued on P5 PANAJI The alterations in guidelines for international arrivals as announced by the central Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday is expected to bring relief to Goa’s seafarers and others stranded abroad. As per the latest guidelines made available on the MoHFW website, “Before boarding, all travellers shall give an undertaking that they would undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days -- seven days paid institutional quarantine at their own cost, followed by seven days isolation at home with self-monitoring of health.” Home quarantine may also be permitted for all 14 days for exceptional and compelling reasons such as cases of human distress, pregnancy, death in family, serious illness and parents accompanied by children below 10 years, as assessed by the receiving states, the MoHFW has stated. While hundreds of Goan seafares have landed in the state of late, there are thousands across various ports across the world that are awaiting flights to get back home. NOT A HAPPY ENDING! China to evacuate citizens from India NEW DELHI: China is planning to evacuate its citizens from India amid the spreading Covid-19 pandemic in the country, a notice issued by the Chinese embassy in New Delhi said.The notice, on the embassy website said students, tourists and businessmen who have been stranded in India will be allowed to fly back. Fishermen sort their nets ahead of the fishing ban at Malim jetty on Monday. Over a thousand trawlers will drop anchor as the 61-day fishing ban comes into force from June 1. Uncertainties over migrant labourers returning remains a major worry as the season draws to a close.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Quiet but solemn Eid for Muslims in Covid time THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI he celebratory mood may not be the same but Eid-ul-Fitr in this time of the Covid-19 pandemic for many muslims in Goa did not lack in solemnity as they confined themselves to the precincts of their homes to offer prayers early Monday morning. The ritual namaaz on public grounds and in mosques may have been eliminated this year due to the compelling physical distancing norms but those from the Muslim community went about their prayers in the confines of their homes. Also many did not shy away from visiting their relatives and friends as Teachers’ training deferred T PANAJI: Director of Education Vandana Rao, IAS, deferred by a day the concluding sessions of the ongoing online teacher-training programme from Monday to Tuesday. With Tuesday’s session, curtains will come down on the programme where over 10,000 teachers of the secondary and higher secondary schools underwent intenstive training in online teaching tools. Earlier last week, Rao had upset a section of the teachers by insisting that the concluding sessions be held on Monday which had coincided with the Eid-ul-Fitr public holiday. Girls show henna on their hands while celebrating Eid. did people from other communities who greeted Muslim friends although at a subdued level. The customary Eid Mubarak greeting with hugs was also missing in the streets and other public spaces. The congregational prayers at masjids were missing and for each muslim family, their home was their masjid. “After waking up early and thanking Allah for yet another opportunity to fast I went out to buy some fresh milk for the prepararion of seviyan-kheer. By tuning in to the online Eid namaaz guidelines by the Imam of Maajid ul Abrar, Margao, I said my prayers at home,” said Asif Hussain, giving an account of the change in his celebration of Eid on Monday. He said, he missed the prayers and greeting others of the community at the Masjid this year but added that he used the phone to speak and text friends his greetings. Asif also said, that relishing the customary biryani and kheer could not be resisted by neighbours and despite the necessity of physical distancing, they came over in groups of five, particularly children, to join the feast. Meanwhile general prayers to help get over the Covid-19 pandemic and the pain it has inflicted on so many was also a common thread of Eid this year.