AGARTALA / NEW DELHI, April 11 (TIWN): TIWN Journalists field coverage across various markets exposed failure ot social distancing as unruly public continue to ignore lockdown amid severe risks of COVID19 spread. Today morning Gol Bazar & Battala markets were over-crowded, no sign of enforcement or social distancing was seen. PM Modi advised States to plan for extended lockdown of another 2 weeks as Corona cases across India continue spiking, death toll rose to 242 as total cases cross 7,500 mark.

Total 1035 positive novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and 40 deaths have been detected in the last 24 hours taking the total number of overall cases to 7,529 in India, the Union Health Ministry said in its latest briefing on Saturday. 

Most states, as per government sources, have requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to extend the nationwide lockdown beyond April 14 for two more weeks. “The central government is considering this request,” government sources said following the meeting between the PM and chief ministers via video conferencing.

Bengal, Maharastra, Punjab to various other States already declared lockdown till April 30.
Emphasising on the impact of the lockdown, the health ministry further said that after restrictions were imposed, the growth rate of infections is down to 29 per cent. It would have been 45,000 without lockdown and would have been 2,00,000 without any measures,” a health ministry official stated.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOXmVqsTY18&feature=youtu.be Lockdown Looked like "Chaitra Bazar" opened in Agartala markets. TIWN YouTube Video April 11, 2020 
Earlier In a notification, Health Secretary Debasish Basu has said, “In pursuance of the guiding principle of COVID19 management, issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of India, it has been decided to notify NTI building of IGM Hospital Complex as Dedicated COVID Healthcare (DCHC) which will offer care only for cases that have been clinically assigned as mild and moderate cases of COVID19 confirmed cases. NTH-2 Block of AGMC and GBP Hospital, Agartala has been notified as dedicated COVID Hospital (DCH), which will offer comprehensive care primarily for those COVID confirmed patients, who have clinically assigned as severe”.
 
Tripura witnessed the second COVID19 case, a TSR Jawan, native of Madhya Pradesh who is on duty working at Damcherra, Tripura. State Govt announced 2nd COVID19 case yesterday.
 
COVID19 Second Patient is Stable and Healthy, said a Health Dept official here on Saturday. The COVID19 positive 32 years old TSR Jawan from Madhya Pradesh most likely visited his home and was returning via Tripura Sundari train, which landed in Tripura on 19th March, 2020, suspected as the main carrier of the virus. Since he landed in Dharmanagar Railway Station he was in TSR cam but as soon as the first COVID19 Patient was admitted and Health started screening of all patients, with others, the person was in quarantine. Chief Minister Biplab Deb has asked public not to panic over the situation, advising them to ‘Stay Home’. He is the second Coronavirus victim of Tripura after a 45 years old man  was found positive in state.
 
Today in Press Meet, Minister Ratan Lal and Health Secretary Debashis Basu said that Tripura lockdown likely to extend, Ratan Lal said most likely till April 30, official announcement pending.
 
TIWN spoke with Police Offcials, informed unruly situation in Gol Bazar, Battala markets, Police assured strict enforcement from tommrow. 
 
TIWN Editor Saumen Sarkar appealed to public to take social distancing seriously, follow Govt guidelines, co-operate with Govt to stop COVID19's spread in Tripura.