No staff, restaurants may remain shut in Chennai

TNN | Mar 25, 2020, 04.16 AM IST

CHENNAI: It will be bad news for those depending on restaurants for food from Wednesday when a majority of standalone restaurants will be shut as part of the lockdown. A few neighbourhood eateries may function.

Chennai Hotels Association secretary R Rajkumar said a sizeable number of the staff employed by restaurants had left the city. “As per government orders, dine-in facilities will not be allowed as there are very few staff members left,” he said.

In a notification, the state government said the operation of app-based food delivery aggregators such as Swiggy, Zomato and Uber has been halted, adding that no one can be engaged in this task. “We expect at least 90% of all standalone restaurants to shut. A few neighbourhood eateries may be opened,” he added.

With a majority of the 8,000 eateries in the city and its fringes shut, city residents began feeling the pinch of closure from Tuesday evening. Madipakkam resident R Siddharth said many had jacked up prices. “Many were closed in our area except for two. However, food was very expensive,” he said. For instance, chicken fried rice, normally priced at Rs 120 a plate, cost Rs 160 a plate on Tuesday. “We don’t know if this eatery too will be shut on Wednesday.”

A majority of those who left the city said they made the decision as they realized getting food would be a problem. “To avoid all this confusion, I left for my hometown on Monday evening. I didn’t mind paying Rs 12,000 for the,” S Nagenthiran, a resident of Guduvanchery, told this reporter over phone.

A few bachelors, who have decided to remain in the city, said they had decided to test their cooking skills at home.

Zoo in Chennai shut for visitors, animals relieved

TNN | Mar 25, 2020, 04.18 AM IST

CHENNAI: The animals and birds at the Vandalur zoo have never been seen in such a relaxed mood, say their keepers.

From K Chellaiah, who is in charge of the white tigers’ enclosure, to M Nagammal, who takes care of the enclosures for deer and the regular tigers, almost every staff member says life for the animals has been most peaceful since March 17 when the zoo was shut over Covid-19 fears.

This is the second time the facility has been closed for a long time. The first time was from January 23 to February 23 in 2002, when a wild leopard strayed into the zoo and the authorities trapped it after a month.

The present situation, though comfortable for the animals, could prove costly for the zoo in terms of revenue, say officials. They, however, admit that the behaviour of the visitors, some of them unruly, causes a lot of strain for the animals.

From 9.45am, when the gates are opened and the first visitors stream in, to when the zoo is closed, the animals are subjected to almost continuous noise. Some try to get as close to the enclosures as possible to take selfies; others shout and clap to draw the attention of the animals. A few others even throw stones at the animals, sometimes hurting them and causing a lot of stress. All this, says

renowned veterinarian N Kalaivanan, leads to loss of natural behaviour for animals and their stress levels go up.

A good example is the Sariska reserve in Rajasthan where the huge number of vehicles affected the reproductive system of tigers and their numbers in Central India fell significantly, he said.

“When animals in captivity are not disturbed, their wild behaviour is restored. Their physiological behaviour is also good and helps in better functioning of their reproductive system,” he said.

Now, Chelliah says, with no visitors to disturb them, the white tigers have been frolicking with their cubs happily.

Nagammal agrees and says the sambar deer, in particular, react instantly to noise and sometimes abandon their feed. No such instances have occurred in the past one week, she says.

It is not only the carnivores such as tigers and leopards that are stressed. Even small mammals such as mongoose and palm civet among a host of animals too get affected badly, Kalaivanan said. That may return when the zoo is ultimately opened, he added.

From chaos to uneasy calm: How city went into curfew

TNN | Mar 25, 2020, 04.50 AM IST

Chennai: Grocery stores, bus stands and Tasmac shops -- that’s where most of the city congregated on Tuesday before the lockdown came into effect. As the day dawned bright and clear, people rushed to neighbourhood stores to stock up on provisions. People crowded stores in Anna Nagar, Choolaimedu, Saidapet, Triplicane, Royapetah, Mylapore and T Nagar.

“I was not planning to stock up but many people were coming and buying things. I realised the seriousness when I found out that the packet of milk powder I picked up was the last one in the shop,” said P Anusuya, a resident shopping at a store on Ellis Road.

The sense of hurry was palpable – whether it was on the busy road or in the shops and small businesses that continued to function. By noon, a few shops started to run out of supplies such as milk powder. Along with noodles, biscuits figured high on the list for customers, who feared stocks may be scarce in the coming days.

Despite the heat and humidity, Zam Bazaar market was bustling with activity at noon and also later in the day when the 6pm deadline drew near. People rushed to buy fruits, vegetables, rice, wheat flour, coconut oil and milk products, with many buying provisions in bulk. They feared that the neighbourhood grocer or supermarket may not get supplies during the lockdown.

“I have stocks but I am not sure whether I will be getting fruits and vegetables from tomorrow. Everything that we sell here comes from Andhra and a few other districts in Tamil Nadu. I do not know how long it will take for the supplies to arrive,” said Mahesh, a fruit shop owner.

With people as well as retail outlets rushing to stock up, vegetable prices in Koyambedu market soared. For the first time, wholesale prices of some of the vegetables were higher than the retail prices. Tomato was sold at Rs 25 per kg in retail outlets while it was priced Rs 40 per kg in Koyambedu. While onions and potatoes sold at Rs 30 and Rs 33 at retail, sellers at Koyambedu charged Rs 10 more.

The Koyambedu bus terminus also saw a lot of activity as people hailing from southern and western districts desperately looked for buses so that they could reach their hometowns before authorities locked the borders. Auto drivers made a killing fleecing passengers who wanted to reach the stand.

Yet another place saw people jostling with one another so that they could stock up for the dry days ahead – Tasmac outlets were crowded from the moment they opened at noon. People with bags in hand waited patiently throughout the afternoon but as the 6pm deadline neared, there was a mad rush. In Choolaimedu, the staff had a tough time dealing with people when it was time to down the shutters. People even prised open the shutters and demanded that they continue to sell booze.

In Zam Bazaar, as the lockdown began, police asked all shop owners, and also restaurants to close. Only medical shops and pushcarts selling fruits were spared. People quickly converged on the vendors to buy the last of their produce.

“They told us in the afternoon that we can function but now they say that it is better to close when the shutdown begins. The police said that we can open in the morning,” said N Mani, who runs an eatery.

Post 6pm, police patrolled the city, asking traders to shut shops. Just as quickly, silence fell over the city, and the main thoroughfares looked deserted. The busy city settled down for the night, and braced for the long fight ahead. 21 days.

(With inputs from B A Raju and A Prathap)

Covid-19 lockdown in Tamil Nadu: Travelling for work in Chennai? Remember to carry these documents

Mar 24, 2020, 08.35 PM IST

CHENNAI: After the lockdown came into force in Tamil Nadu to combat spread of Covid-19, Chennai police commissioner A K Viswanathan and Greater Chennai Corporation commissioner G Prakash on Tuesday evening said people who have to travel for work should carry a proper identity proof and their company's ID card. Section 144 was invoked in the state at 6pm.

However, people going out to buy essential items need not carry ID proof.

"Since this is an extraordinary medical emergency, we have brought these stringent measures into place. Thirty joint teams of corporation and police will be on rounds checking who violates this," Prakash said.

Prakash said only retail shoppers should come to wholesale markets. People should restrict themselves to buying from neighbourhood shops thereby preventing crowds at larger markets.

Prakash said 3,500-4,000 domestic breeding checkers of the GCC have been given full body suits, gloves and boots to be used by them while they conduct door-to-door fever survey.

Passport services suspended till March 31

24/03/2020, STAFF REPORTER,COIMBATORE

Following orders from the Ministry of External Affairs, the Regional Passport Office in Coimbatore said in a communiqué on Monday that the Passport Seva Kendra in Coimbatore and Post Office Passport Kendras at Coonoor, Erode, Salem and Namakkal will not function till March 31. Those who had booked appointments during these days were advised to re-schedule their appointments after April 7. Applicants can contact the following numbers for any doubts: 0422 2301415, 2300250, 2306111.

Teaching, non-teaching faculty continue to work

24/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,COIMBATORE

Even as the State government imposed restrictions on people’s movement under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in its efforts to combat the spread COVID-19, teaching and non-teaching faculty continued to work.

The faculty and administrative staff reported for work even though the government had a fortnight ago closed colleges for students.

Sources in the Department of Collegiate Education said that faculty and non-teaching staff in the 14 government-run and 18 government-aided colleges in the Coimbatore region continued to work as there was no communication from the Department.

The Coimbatore region comprised Coimbatore, the Nilgiris, Tiruppur and Erode districts.

Commenting on the issue, former general secretary, Association of University Teachers, C. Pichandy said the Government should have long ago taken a stand saying colleges were closed for teaching and administrative staff as well.

What was the use of faculty reporting for work in the absence of students, asked N. Pasupathy, State president of the Association.

There was nothing that the faculty could do in the absence of students. And, the government not issuing directions and thereby asking the faculty and administrative staff to work had no meaning.

Instead of treating the faculty and staff like any other government employee, the government would do well to issue instructions asking them to not report for work.

It could ask the faculty and administrative staff to return to work when it reopened colleges.

Department sources said the Government was yet to issue any directions on faculty and staff reporting for duty.

T.N. branch of IMA comes forward to help government

24/03/2020, WILSON THOMAS

The Tamil Nadu branch of the Indian Medical Association has come forward to help the State Government for the management of COVID-19.

Bed strength

IMA informed the government that willing member hospitals were ready to keep 50% of their bed strength reserved for the management of COVID-19 in case of any eventuality.

If any private hospital was ready to convert its entire facility for COVID-19 management, that was also welcomed by IMA.

The decision was taken in a three-hour-long web conferencing held on Sunday in which Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar, Health Secretary Beela Rajesh, and other senior health officials and government officials, as well as the national president of the IMA, State officer-bearers of the IMA, and members of the medial body across the State took part.

The government decided that private hospitals empanelled under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme could be used for COVID-19 management in the first level, if required.

IMA Tamil Nadu has 4,500 member hospitals and 36,000 members in 166 branches.

Ms. Rajesh said the Department has identified laboratories accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories to be roped in for COVID-19 testing, if required.

IMA State president C.N. Raja requested the Health Minister to consider insurance for medical professionals, in government and private sectors, as they are first in line to get exposed to the virus while handling patients.

“Insuring medical professionals will encourage them to combat the epidemic. It will boost their morale,” said State secretary A.K. Ravikumar.

IMA has shared a PowerPoint presentation to all member hospitals on how to equip their facilities for COVID-19 management as per government protocol.

© 2017 All Rights Reserved. Powered by Summit exclusively for The Hindu

Fear grips teachers

24/03/2020, STAFF REPORTER,COIMBATORE

A view of Corporation Primary School in Siddhapudur, one of the schools where teachers come to work despite the school being shut on Monday. M. Periasamy M_PERIASAMY

With the State government shutting down all educational institutions, teachers have been going to schools since March 17 owing to lack of specific instructions from the Department of School Education.

A teacher from a government primary school in the outskirts of Coimbatore city told The Hindu that teachers have been staying in schools from 9 a.m to 4 p.m in the past week.

“There is fear among all of the teachers here,” she said, noting that teachers choose to sit in separate classrooms rather than as a group.

The teachers have been carrying out preparatory works for the next academic year, the teacher said.

Private schools also are no exception to this. R. Visalakshi, president of Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association, said that the teachers are made to come to schools as the public examinations for Class XII and XI are under way. “If [the State Government] ask us to declare holiday for teachers, we will declare,” she said.

“Most of the teachers have been performing only clerical works,” said T. Arulanandam, State Auditor of Tamil Nadu High Higher Secondary School Graduate Teachers Association (TNHHSSGTA). These works, such as entering the particulars of the students and their attendance details, could be done by teachers from their homes, he noted.

Mr. Arulanandam, a Class X teacher in a government-aided school, said that students tend to clarify their doubts through calls or WhatsApp, which also does not require the presence of teachers in schools.

At a time when the Central and State governments are calling for social distancing, teachers must be allowed to work from homes, Mr. Arulanandam urged.

When contacted, Coimbatore Chief Educational Officer P. Usha said that all teachers, who go to schools or for examination duties, have been instructed about the COVID-19 precautionary measures.

Schools and examination centres are regularly disinfected and are equipped with soaps for handwashing. Any teacher feeling unwell will be permitted to take leave, Ms. Usha said.

Restrictions brought in at CMCH, court complex

24/03/2020, STAFF REPORTER,COIMBATORE

One of the gates of the Combined Court Complex seen closed on Monday. S. Siva Saravanan S_SIVA SARAVANAN

Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) brought in regulations in the entry of patients and visitors from Monday.

Those coming to the hospital were checked at the gate. Emergency cases like accident victims, those requiring immediate medical attention and one attender per patient were permitted after checked by the staff.

“The Prime Minister and the Government already appealed that people should avoid unnecessary visit to hospitals to prevent the spread of COVID-19. People with symptoms of the viral infection are coming to the hospital seeking medical advice and testing. Hence, the administration decided to regulate entry of people after consulting with the District Collector,” said an official. Similar restrictions were also introduced on the combined court complex. Except the main gate, other gates were closed on Monday. This was to avoid unwanted entry of people. Judicial officers, court staff, advocates and litigants were permitted after screened by medical team at the main gate, said sources at the court administration.

Supermarkets witness rush

24/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,COIMBATORE

Thyagi Kumaran vegetable market in the city saw a huge rush on Monday. S. Siva Saravanan S_SIVA SARAVANAN

Indumathi, a regular customer at Thyagi Kumaran Market in the city, had to struggle to come out of the market on Monday evening after her purchases.

“Prices have doubled for all the vegetables,” she said. As the State government announced complete lockdown from 6 p.m., March 24, people rushed to super markets and vegetable markets in the city to buy their requirements.

Surya and his friends were also at the market. They are from West Bengal and working at a gold smithy in the city.

“We cannot go back home as there are no trains or buses. We usually buy vegetables at a shop nearby. Since we need to buy more vegetables, we came to the market,” he said.

“They have told us that we can keep the shops open till tomorrow evening. We do not know what will happen after that,” said an onion vendor at the market.

At the Pazhamudir Nilayam supermarket on Avinashi Road, customers waited in queues as only 50 people can be inside the market at any given time. There were repeated announcements asking customers to finish buying their needs soon so that others can come in. “We cannot run the air conditioner and cannot have a crowd inside. So we are allowing customers only in batches,” said the manager of the market.

“People are scared. We plan to keep all shops in the wholesale markets open till specific orders from the Government as vegetables are essential commodities. We will continue to receive vegetables from other States,” said M. Rajendran, president of the Thyagi Kumaran Market Vegetable Merchants Association.

Meanwhile, officials of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India inspected vegetable and fruit stalls to regulate the crowd as people rushed to them in large numbers for shopping ahead of the curfew. Food safety officials inspected stalls at Peelamedu and Arts College Road and advised management to avoid gathering of people as a precaution against possible spread of COVID-19.

While one shop was closed, people voluntarily stood in queue in another one. Food safety officials regulated the crowd pull at another shop at Ramanathapuram.

Efforts on to trace co-passengers of Coimbatore woman tested positive

24/03/2020, WILSON THOMAS ,COIMBATORE

A day after a 25-year-old woman, who returned from Spain, tested positive for COVID-19 in Coimbatore, Health Department was in the efforts to gather details of persons who travelled with here on flight and train.

Though a Health Department official claimed that they traced the train and flight on which she travelled, details were not shared. Health Department sought the help of Southern Railway to track the co-passengers in train on which she travelled from Bengaluru to Coimbatore.

“It is very important to trace the entire travel history of a person tested positive for COVID-19. Co-passengers in flight and train should be identified and they need to be kept under observation. If required, tests should be done.

These co-passengers will interact with several other people including family members and friends without knowing the fact that they travelled in close proximity with a person who contracted the virus,” said a public health expert who did not want to be named.

While her father and sister were in quarantine at hospital from Sunday, driver of a taxi in which she travelled from Coimbatore railway station to her house near Saibaba Colony, two of her friends, doctors and medical team, who attended to her while collecting swab sample and in quarantine, were under observation.

Woman refused to listen

Meanwhile, an official at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital claimed that the woman refused to listen to the advise of medical team when she came to the hospital with certain symptoms of the viral infection on March 19.

“The woman refused to remain in hospital quarantine and left for home despite knowing the fact that her friend in Spain contracted COVID-19. Then we contacted her father and advised the risks involved in staying at house or roaming freely. She later came to the hospital and medical team kept her in quarantine after lifting sample,” said the official.

Residents of the locality where the woman’s house is situated were in panic since Sunday evening after hearing about the confirmation of test result.

JIPMER shut down

24/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, PUDUCHERRY

Outpatient services at government general hospitals in Puducherry and JIPMER were shut down on Monday in the wake of increase in number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

Commuters run to Koyambedu bus terminus to escape lockdown

Minister assures that more buses would be operated on Tuesday till 6 p.m.

24/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,CHENNAI

Passengers struggling to board a State-owned bus at Koyambedu in Chennai on Monday, to reach their destinations following the lockdown announcement for a week. PTIR Senthil Kumar

As the State government prepares for a lockdown from Tuesday evening, thousands of people are rushing to the Dr. MGR bus terminus in Koyambedu to return to their native places. With the train services fully cancelled from Sunday and not to resume till March 31, the only silver lining for the commuters was the bus transport which would also be stopped from Tuesday evening.

As a result the Koyambedu bus terminus is crowded with anxious commuters wanting to reach their hometown within the State. The sudden surge in commuter population is causing difficulties for the transport department authorities to operate long distance buses in a short span of time.

S. Janani, who stays in a women’s hostel, found it difficult to catch a direct bus to reach her native place in Pudukottai. She said it took more than an hour for her to board a bus at the Koyambedu bus terminus. She also rued that the private buses were charging exorbitant fares.

However, Transport Minister M.R. Vijayabhaskar, in a recorded message, said that adequate arrangements are being made to operate long distance buses to various parts of the State. To compensate for shortage of long distance buses, which were operated minimally on Monday, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses were operated to several destinations including Villupuram, Tindivanam and Tiruchi. More than 100 buses have already been operated for transporting the commuters, he said.

Requesting the commuters not to panic by rushing to the Koyambedu bus terminus, the Transport Minister assured the public that more buses would be operated on Tuesday till 6

All T.N. courts to function notwithstanding Section 144

Judicial work to be restricted to extremely urgent cases

24/03/2020, MOHAMED IMRANULLAH S.,CHENNAI

The Madras High Court on Monday decided that its principal seat in Chennai, a Bench in Madurai as well as all trial courts across the State will continue to function despite the proposed imposition of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure from 6 p.m. on Tuesday to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The decision was taken by the Administrative Committee, comprising Chief Justice Amreshwar Pratap Sahi and Justices Vineet Kothari, R. Subbiah, M. Sathyanarayanan, N. Kirubakaran, M.M. Sundresh and T.S. Sivagnanam.

It was, however, made clear that the proceedings shall be restricted to extremely urgent cases for the next three weeks.

According to a circular issued by Registrar General (R-G) C. Kumarappan, the High Court shall function with two Division Benches (one for hearing civil cases and the other for criminal cases) and five Single Benches (three on the criminal side and two on the civil side) from Tuesday, and they would take up cases that require immediate attention.

A request was made to the lawyers to exercise their discretion and restrict filing of cases as far as possible. They were also asked not to operate from the chambers allotted to them inside the High Court campus and desist from inviting their clients to the court campus unless and otherwise the court concerned had ordered for their appearance in connection with a case.

Impressing upon the need for curtailing the presence of the court staff too, the Administrative Committee directed the R-G to take a call on rotating the employees on need basis. “There shall be an exception with regard to the protocol and maintenance staff who are required to be present on account of the nature of the duties that they have to essentially perform,” it added.

Further, it was ordered that personal secretaries, drivers, residential assistants, office assistants and other personal staff attached to individual judges should make themselves available. A similar arrangement was ordered to be put in place in the Madurai Bench too.

As far as the functioning of subordinate courts in the State was concerned, the R-G issued a separate circular stating that they should also confine their functioning to extremely urgent cases and restrict the number of lawyers and litigants in the courts. The Principal District Judges across Tamil Nadu and the Chief Judge of Puducherry were instructed to ensure strict compliance.

“Courts may endeavour to grant general adjournments for a period of three weeks unless there is an extremely urgent matter to be taken up on the request of the counsel subject to the discretion of the court,” the circular read.

The Principal District Judges were also asked to ensure minimum presence of court staff. “All subordinate courts are put on guard that their activities are likely to be viewed and monitored through video conferencing by the High Court,” the circular concluded.

Staff disappointed

Several employees of the Madras High Court expressed disappointment over its decision to continue the functioning of all courts across the State despite a representation made by Tamil Nadu Advocate Association (TNAA), led by senior counsel S. Prabakaran, to suspend the court proceedings until the threat of COVID-19 abates.

Anxious, people swarm supermarkets and empty shelves

They are in no mood to a rely on assurance from authorities that shops selling milk, vegetables and groceries will be open

24/03/2020, STAFF REPORTER,MADURAI

Till stocks last: People thronged supermarkets across Madurai on Monday to stock up on groceries, vegetables and snacks to last the curfew week. G. Moorthy

Following the announcement of Chief Minister on the state-wide promulgation of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure till March 31, people thronged supermarkets across the city for stocking groceries and other essential commodities.

However, there is no need to indulge in panic buying urged the officials from the district administration. They said that all essential commodities will be available and shops selling milk, vegetables, provisions, meat and fish will remain open. The Corporation officials even made public announcements to this effect on Monday evening.

But within two hours of the announcement, long, serpentine queues had formed in front of a few supermarkets in the city. Triggered by COVID-19 fear, people hurried through department stores, carrying large trolleys and baskets.

Aruna, a resident of Narayanapuram, said she saw the announcement on television and immediately rushed to the nearest supermarket. “Though it is said grocery shops will be open, there is no clarity. Also, we don’t know how we can leave home during curfew,” she said. By evening, many people also rushed to stores to buy vegetables, especially those which had longer shelf life. “Following the observance of Janata curfew on Sunday, there was two-fold increase in prices of vegetables on Monday. Despite the high prices, people rushed after them. By, evening the entire stock was over and many returned home dejected,” said S. Selvaraj, owner of a vegetable shop, said.

P. Selvin, branch manager of Shri Kannan Departmental Store at Teppakulam, said that for the past few days there had been a rush at the shop. “But, within an hour of the announcement, around 150 people rushed in. And they were engaged in panicky large-scale shopping,” he said.

R.U. Sreekuttan filled his entire trolley with huge quantities of different types of pulses. “There is a fear that the prohibitory order can be extended. So we thought that we will hurry and buy as much as we can,” he said.

A branch manager of a leading supermarket chain in K.K. Nagar said that their sales on a day would usually hover around ₹2 lakh. “But, since Monday afternoon sales of around ₹2.5 lakh has been recorded. By evening, almost the entire stock of groceries, processed food products and snacks were gone,” he said.

HC Bench to restrict its functioning

24/03/2020, STAFF REPORTER,MADURAI

Following guidelines issued by the Madras High Court Chief Justice Amreshwar Pratap Sahi, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday notified that the court will restrict it’s functioning from March 24 for three weeks, in the wake of the spread of COVID-19.

The notification said that in view of the emergent situation which has arisen on account of COVID-19 pandemic, it has become imperative for the Madurai Bench to adopt the guidelines issued by the Chief Justice at the Principal seat for the restricted functioning of the Principal seat and the Madurai Bench.

As per the notification, changes have been made to the sitting arrangement. Now, a Division Bench of Justices P.N. Prakash and S.S. Sundar will hear urgent motions and admissions in writ petitions, writ appeals and habeas corpus petitions.

After the Division Bench sitting, Justice P.N. Prakash will hear urgent motions and admissions in criminal original petitions (under section 482 of Cr.PC). Justice S.S. Sundar will hear all single bench appellate side matters.

Justice G. Jayachandran will hear criminal original petitions - bail and anticipatory bail petitions. Justice M. Dhandapani will hear urgent motions and admissions in all single bench writ petitions. Advocates have been requested to limit filing of cases as far as possible as the court will take up only extremely urgent matters, the notification said.

As virus toll rises to nine, States put in place tougher measures

Domestic flights grounded; first fatalities in West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh

24/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

As the death toll from COVID-19 touched nine on Monday, the government announced a slew of measures, including the suspension of all domestic flight operations until the end of March, to slow down the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Thirty States and Union Territories moved to a complete lockdown mode, and governments warned of strict punitive action against those who violate preventive measures.

The number of cases confirmed by the Union Health Ministry rose to 471. Data from the States put the total number of cases at 476, with 443 active cases.

West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh reported their first fatalities.

In view of the continuing spread of the virus, Parliament curtailed its session and adjourned sine die after passing the Finance Bill.

650 aircraft grounded

The Ministry of Civil Aviation ordered the shutting down of all domestic flight operations hours after an announcement was made by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal suspending all incoming flights to the capital.

The new restriction will be effective from Tuesday midnight, a day after the ban on international flights came into effect.

A total of 650 aircraft operated by various Indian airlines will now be grounded across airports. The Centre's move comes after several States, including West Bengal and Bihar, requested a ban on flights.

Kerala and Maharashtra, which are facing the brunt of the crisis, with 95 and 97 cases respectively, announced more sweeping measures.

Following 28 new cases on Monday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said shops, offices and establishments barring essential services will be closed. Camps will be prepared for migrant labourers, who will be provided food and given medical examinations, as economic activities come to a complete halt in the State.

Announcing a State-wide curfew, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said: “People are not listening and they were stepping out as if the virus threat had diminished. However, that is not the case. I am forced to say this because there are still those who have not understood the seriousness of what we face.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again urged people to take the lockdown seriously.

Don’t lay off workers or cut salaries: Ministry

EPFO issues instructions on timely pension payments

24/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,NEW DELHI

The Union Labour and Employment Ministry has been reaching out to employers in the public and private sectors, asking them not to lay off workers or cut salaries due to the ongoing lockdown caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.

In letters to the Secretaries of Central Ministries, State Chief Secretaries and employers’ associations sent over a few days up to Monday, the Ministry said employers were asked to “extend their cooperation by not terminating employees” in this “challenging situation”.

The Ministry said if any worker took leave, it should be “deemed to be on duty without any consequential deduction of wages”. The same should apply to those working in an establishment that is ordered to shut down, the letter said.

“The termination of employee from the job or reduction of wages in this scenario would further deepen the crises and will not only weaken the financial condition of the employee but also hamper their morale to fight the epidemic,” the letter stated.

The Ministry tweeted on Monday: “Seeing the Coronavirus pandemic, advisory has been issued by the Labour Ministry to all the employers of public/private establishments to coordinate by not terminating their employees, particularly casual or contractual workers from job or reduce their wages.”

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation said in a statement that it had instructed its field offices to generate and reconcile the pension amounts and details for March by Wednesday.

The Finance Ministry announced that contractual labour and outsourced staff working for the Central government would be treated as “on duty” and paid as usual with no penalty.

SC to go digital to maintain social distancing

Only urgent cases to be taken up via video app

24/03/2020, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

The Supreme Court on Monday decided to further restrict its functioning on account of the COVID-19 scare and resort to the digital mode to maintain social distancing and prevent spread of infection. The court premises would be completely shutdown.

In a meeting among judges, lawyers and the government through the Solicitor General held on Monday, it was decided that only extremely urgent cases would be taken up by a Bench(es) through a video app.

The Supreme Court Bench led by Chief Justice of India Sharad A. Bobde used its extraordinary powers under Article 142 to lift the limitation period for all cases across tribunals and courts in the country until further notice.

“To obviate difficulties and to ensure that lawyers/litigants do not have to come physically to file proceedings in respective courts/tribunals across the country, including this court, it is hereby ordered that a period of limitation in all proceedings, irrespective of the limitation prescribed under the general law or special laws, whether condonable or not, shall stand extended with effect from March 15 till further orders,” the apex court said after taking suo motu cognisance.

A Bench led by Chief Justice Bobde heard a few cases via videoconferencing on Monday. A giant screen, instead of the usual crowd of lawyers and litigants, greeted Chief Justice Bobde and his fellow judges as they entered the courtroom. The screen, placed in front of the judges’ dais, was connected to the Old Court Masters’ Room at another end of the Supreme Court premises. This room was fitted with microphones and screens for lawyers to present their cases to the CJI Bench via videoconferencing.

The meeting on Monday was held by Justices L. Nageswara Rao, Surya Kant and Aniruddha Bose and attended by Supreme Court Bar Association president Dushyant Dave and secretary Ashok Arora, Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association secretary Joseph Aristotle S. and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.

A circular issued by the Supreme Court late on Monday explained that the cases would be heard through an app called ‘Vidyo’.

It said a one-page synopsis of these cases can be sent to the apex court registry via an email id - mention.sc@sci.nic.in. The registry would then forward the mail to the judges on the slotted Bench. Once the case is approved for urgent hearing, it would be listed for the next day. The lawyer concerned would be mailed a video link and he or she can use it to present his case via videoconferencing at an allotted time. The link would lapse automatically by default shortly after the hearing.

If the case is not listed for hearing via videoconferencing, the advocate-on-record concerned would be provided with a telephone number by the registry. The lawyer is free to call the judge between 10.30 and 11 a.m. the following day and directly press his case for urgent hearing.

“Based on the progress made in the next few days, cases pertaining to bail also will be considered to be listed subsequently on priority of urgency basis,” Mr. Aristotle said.

All T.N. courts to function

Only urgent cases to be taken up

24/03/2020, MOHAMED IMRANULLAH S.,CHENNAI

The Madras High Court on Monday decided that its principal seat in Chennai, a Bench in Madurai as well as all trial courts across the State will continue to function despite the proposed imposition of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure from 6 p.m. on Tuesday to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The decision was taken by the Administrative Committee, comprising Chief Justice Amreshwar Pratap Sahi and Justices Vineet Kothari, R. Subbiah, M. Sathyanarayanan, N. Kirubakaran, M.M. Sundresh and T.S. Sivagnanam. It was made clear that the proceedings shall be restricted to extremely urgent cases for next three weeks.

According to a circular issued by Registrar General (R-G) C. Kumarappan, the High Court shall function with two Division Benches (one for hearing civil cases and the other for criminal cases) and five Single Benches (three on the criminal side and two on the civil side) from Tuesday, and they would take up cases that require immediate attention.

Appeal to lawyers

A request was made to the lawyers to exercise their discretion and restrict filing of cases as far as possible. They were also asked not to operate from the chambers allotted to them inside the High Court campus and desist from inviting their clients to the court campus unless and otherwise the court concerned had ordered for their appearance in connection with a case. Impressing upon the need for curtailing the presence of the court staff too, the Administrative Committee directed the R-G to take a call on rotating the employees on need basis.

It was ordered that personal secretaries, drivers, residential assistants, office assistants and other personal staff of individual judges should make themselves available. A similar arrangement was ordered in the Madurai Bench too.

As far as the functioning of subordinate courts in the State was concerned, the R-G issued a separate circular stating that they should also confine their functioning to extremely urgent cases. The Principal District Judges and the Chief Judge of Puducherry were instructed to ensure strict compliance.

The Principal District Judges were asked to ensure minimum presence of staff. “All subordinate courts are put on guard that their activities are likely to be viewed and monitored through video conferencing by High Court,” the circular said.

Staff disappointed

Several employees of the High Court expressed disappointment over its decision to continue the functioning of all courts across the State, despite a representation made by Tamil Nadu Advocate Association (TNAA), led by senior counsel S. Prabakaran, to suspend court proceedings until COVID-19 threat abates.

Tamil Nadu announces lockdown

24/03/2020

The Chief Minister said all shops and commercial establishments would remain closed except those selling provisions, milk, vegetables, meat and fish. Pharmacies too were exempt. He said that the Centre had sent out an advisory to combat COVID-19 in many districts of the country. Except essential transport services, public and private transport, omnibuses, autos and taxis would not be allowed to ply. “All transportation, except for essential commute (and transportation of goods), between States and districts has been banned,” he said. There is no bar on the use of personal vehicles.

Mr. Palaniswami said that government offices, other than those dealing with essential services, would not function. The Chief Minister announced that Amma Unavagams would continue to feed thousands of workers.

Delivery services

Only takeaway would be allowed in restaurants but delivery services like Swiggy and Zomato would not operate.

“We hope this notification will help control the spread of COVID-19. Police have been instructed to ensure that prohibitory orders are implemented,” the Chief Secretary told The Hindu.

The Puducherry Cabinet too recommended a lockdown from 9 p.m. on Monday to March 31.

Commuters rush to board buses

MTC buses to be used to ferry long-distance passengers

24/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,CHENNAI

As the State gears up for a lockdown from Tuesday, many made a beeline for the Koyambedu terminus. K. Pichumani

As the State government prepares for a lockdown from Tuesday evening, thousands of people are rushing to the Dr. MGR Bus Stand at Koyambedu to return to their native places.

With train services fully cancelled from Sunday until March 31, the only silver lining for the commuters was the bus transport which too will stop from Tuesday evening.

As a result the Koyambedu bus terminus is crowded with anxious commuters wanting to reach their hometown within the State. The sudden surge in commuter population is causing difficulties for the Transport department authorities to operate long distance buses in a short span of time.

S. Janani, who stays in a women’s hostel, found it difficult to catch a direct bus to reach her native place in Pudukottai. She said it took more than an hour for her to board a bus at the Koyambedu bus terminus. She also rued that the private buses were charging exorbitant fares. However, Transport Minister M.R. Vijayabhaskar, in a recorded message, said that adequate arrangements are being made to operate long distance buses to various parts of the State.

To compensate for shortage of long distance buses, which were operated minimally on Monday, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses were operated to several destinations including Villupuram, Tindivanam and Tiruchi.

More than 100 buses have already been operated for transporting the commuters, he said.

Requesting the commuters not to panic by rushing to the Koyambedu bus terminus, the Transport Minister assured the public that more buses would be operated on Tuesday till 6 p.m. Special teams would be inspecting the omni-bus terminus and see to it that commuters are not fleeced by the private bus operators.

Volunteers help senior citizens stuck at home, deliver essentials to their doorstep

A WhatsApp group sees requests pour in

24/03/2020, S. POORVAJA ,CHENNAI

For senior citizens living by themselves and hesitant to step outdoors owing to concerns regarding COVID-19, a group of volunteers has come together to offer assistance.

Bhuvana Seshan, a singer, put out a Facebook post on Sunday evening, asking if people would be interested in helping senior citizens purchase groceries and other essentials. “Several people came forward and said that they would be ready to volunteer and help out senior citizens in their areas. We have created a WhatsApp group for better coordination and have been sending out messages with the numbers of our volunteers on social media so that they can be contacted,” she explained.

A volunteer is assigned based on the area the senior citizen is from, and the former takes down the list of groceries, accepts payment and delivers the essentials.

Keeping in mind the importance of social distancing, Ms. Bhuvana said that all the volunteers have been instructed to drop off the groceries at the doorstep of the senior citizens as well as follow adequate precautions by way of wearing masks, gloves and using hand sanitiser.

Advaith Shivram, a Class XII student who is volunteering in Valasaravakkam, said that on being contacted, he asks the senior citizen for the list of essentials needed and takes the money for the same.

“We do the shopping for them and leave it at their homes. We have got several requests from elderly couples and senior citizens who are living by themselves to help them stock up groceries and medicines,” he said.

A resident of Kolathur, Priscilda Nancy, who has also volunteered, said that she helped arrange breakfast for an elderly couple living alone on Monday morning. “Another senior citizen wanted us to help her buy groceries, coffee powder, milk and a few other essentials.”

The volunteer group is also focusing on arranging food packets for senior citizens who might need them in the coming weeks. “Many senior citizens get meals delivered to their houses through specific providers and if these services are not available during the curfew, we can help them with this as well,” she said.

Senior citizens who need assistance can reach out to these volunteers — Advaith 7358516184, Nancy 8925404028, Sekar 9840047101, Siva Ramesh 9840242929.

Omandurar hospital to be special facility for COVID-19

Health Minister Vijayabaskar announces 350-bed centre

24/03/2020, RAMYA KANNAN,CHENNAI

The Omandurar Government Multispeciality Hospital on Anna Salai is being converted into a special facility with 350 beds to treat COVID-19 patients, Tamil Nadu Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar said.

Other operations of the hospital would be wound down and it will be dedicated to the treatment of the SARS-CoV-2 infected patients.

“Since it is a new hospital and has a lot of space, we decided to commandeer it. With other hospitals, there is a restriction in shifting out in-patients already receiving treatment... which is why we looked at the Omandurar hospital,” Dr. Vijayabaskar explained.

New beds and ventilators will be procured for the facility, he added.

The Minister said a task force of 10 senior doctors has been formed to study treatment protocols across the world.

Engg student donates Rs 1 lakh to state

TNN | Mar 24, 2020, 04.42 AM IST

A final year engineering student of BMS Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, on Monday donated Rs 1 lakh — which she had accumulated through saving pocket money — to the government’s Covid-19 fund. Amulya A, 21 donated a cheque for the sum to the state fund. She handed over the cheque to the chief minister. “This is from my savings. I felt I had to contribute to the battle against Covid-19 and it’s the best way my savings can be utilised. The entire world is affected by Covid-19. I feel everyone has to assist the government in mitigating the current situation,” Amulya said.

Father, sister of Covid-19 positive patient test -ve

TNN | Mar 24, 2020, 04.08 AM IST

Coimbatore: A day after a 25-year-old girl, who returned from Spain, tested positive for Covid-19 at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital in the city, her 62-year-old father and 30-year-old sister tested negative for the virus on Monday. Meanwhile, the public health department is in the process of tracing her contacts.

Sources in the public health department said 14 people who met the girl before she was isolated has been identified.

“The girl’s father and sister, however, have been asked to home quarantine themselves though they have no symptoms. The Ola driver who drove the girl home has been traced and told to quarantine himself. He is expected to be tested on Tuesday,” deputy director of public health Dr G Ramesh Kumar said.

“Her two friends who met her briefly before she came to GH, have also been told to quarantine themselves and are being observed by us. If they show symptoms, then we will test them,” he said. The nine health care professionals at CMCH who checked her for symptoms and collected her throat swabs are also being monitored.

“All the nine of them used the full protective kit while handling her. But just to be safe, we are monitoring them,” the deputy director said. The patient currently has no symptoms, he said. “Not even a cold or fever,” he added.

The girl had insisted on being tested, because her roommate in Spain had tested positive for the disease. Another girl in her thirties from Palakkad has been isolated at CMCH from Sunday evening and was tested for the virus on Monday. The girl has a travel history from Palakkad. The health department said 43 people who had returned to the district from abroad and 233 people who met them are being monitored.

“We are testing people who developed symptoms within five to 14 days of suspected exposure to the virus,” the official said.

Of the 21 samples tested at the testing centre at CMCH on Sunday, eight from Coimbatore turned negative, he said.

Number of people isolated as on Monday, are seven in CMCH and eight in ESIC Hospital. They have also tested 26 people and their results are awaited.

11 Indonesians among 16 quarantined in Salem GH

TNN | Mar 24, 2020, 04.10 AM IST

Salem: A total of 16 people, including 11 Indonesian nationals, were quarantined in the Salem Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital (SGMKMCH) on Sunday night.

Salem Municipal Corporation (SMC) health department officials, who came to know that a team of 11 Indonesians had visited mosques in the city and participated in religious meetings, went to a mosque in the Sanyasikundu area near Kitchipalayam on Sunday night and made inquiries.

“We found that they had participated in religious meetings in three mosques in the Shevapet, Ponnammapet and Erumapalayam areas in the city,” S A Raman, Salem collector said. He said five people from Salem city had assisted them to reach these mosques. They had been staying in Salem since March 11.

The health department officials quarantined all the 16 people in the special ward in SGMKMCH on the same night.

Dean of the hospital Dr Balajinathan told TOI that they have collected blood samples from the 16 people. “We suspect the four Indonesians have Covid-19 symptoms and have sent their blood samples to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) for confirmation,” he said, adding that the results would be out in a couple of days.

The collector said fumigation was carried out in the mosques which the Indonesians visited. “We also started searching for the people who had attended those meetings and they will be quarantined at their houses at the earliest,” he added.

The collector said so far 247 people had returned to Salem from abroad since January 28, this year. “All of them were in home quarantine for nearly 14 days,” he said, adding that they were doing good.

Raman appealed to the public to inform the authorities if anybody who has come from abroad has left home quarantine. He asked them to contact 0427-2450022 and 2450023 if they come across someone who has come from abroad. “People also could reach the district administration on 1077 - the toll-free number round the clock.” He said strict action will be initiated if anyone hides one’s foreign tour details.

The collector asked SGMKMCH doctors to keep the quarantine ward ready to take up corona virus affected patients at any time. The hospital at present has a 9-bed special ward for patients along with 21 beds in the quarantine ward. A team of doctors and nurses will be in these wards round the clock. Sanitisers, one-time use pillow covers, bedsheets and other materials are also kept ready. “The government hospitals in Mettur, Attur and Omalur have five beds each to treat Covid-19 patients,” he said. Six private hospitals too have been chosen to treat Covid-19 positive patients.

Owlets rescued near Tiruvarur

TNN | Mar 24, 2020, 04.02 AM IST

Trichy: Two owlets that fell from a tree on Monday were rescued in Tiruvarur district and handed over to the forest department on Monday.

Estimated to be about 10 days old, the owlets belong to the Barn Owl species. They were being chased by stray dogs and crows before they were rescued by the locals and handed over to the forest department. Barn Owls, which are among the 32 species of owls found in India, are protected under schedule-III of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, said head of Zoology department at National College Trichy, V Gokula.

Wildlife biologist K Sasi Kumar confirmed that the owlets belong to the Barn Owl species. Tiruvarur district forest officer K Arivoli said that rescued owlets are fine and are kept under observation. They will be released in a couple of months.