CM launches IVRS facility for COVID-19

System will guide people based on their symptoms

10/04/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami inaugurating the IVRS helpline number. B. Jothi Ramalingam

An Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS), jointly developed by the State Health Department, Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency, IIT-Madras and Department of Telecom, Government of India, was launched in Chennai on Thursday.

Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and Union Minister for Communications, Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad launched the IVRS facility through videoconferencing. The Chief Minister said this was one more step towards controlling COVID-19 pandemic. The advantage of this system is that it does not require internet connection and people can converse in their mother tongue, a press release said.

According to the release, anyone can give a missed call to 94999 12345. The system would call them back and ask simple questions. Based on the replies provided by them, it would give the appropriate advice on COVID-19. People can provide information on their health status, symptoms of COVID-19, and if they had conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.

Based on the replies and by analysing their place of residence, the initiative would facilitate transfer of information for further action. The district emergency control room would step in for providing appropriate assistance including despatch of ambulance depending on the condition of the callers.

It would categorise them as low-risk beneficiaries, medium-risk beneficiaries and high-risk beneficiaries. For those in the low-risk category, health advice on hand washing, physical distancing and keeping surroundings clean would be provided. For those in the medium-risk category, the district emergency control room would provide required medical assistance. Disease prevention and control measures would be carried out through the control room for high-risk category persons.

15 cows drown in Kanchi lake

They were startled by the thunderstorm while grazing

10/04/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

Over 15 cows, grazing near the Thenneri lake in Walajabad, Kancheepuram district, drowned after they ran into the middle of the waterbody, frightened by the sound of thunderstorms on Thursday evening.

According to villagers, more than 50 cows from villages like Surameni Kuppam, Sirupagal, Athivakkam, Chinnivakkam and Alapakkam usually graze near the lake, every day. On Thursday evening too, they were spotted near the waterbody. Around 4.30 p.m., when it started raining heavily, the bovines were frightened by the sound of thunder and lightning.

Rescue operation

Some local residents claim that the cows ran into the middle of the lake, and got stuck, as the water level rose. “The cowherds ran to the nearby village, asking for help. We went on four boats and rescued a few buffaloes and cows. Close to 15 of them had drowned by then,” said S. Ramaraj, a resident of Surameni Kuppam. “Though we informed the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services (TNFRS), they did not come immediately. They reached around 8 p.m.,” he said.

Mathi Adhavan, VCK district spokesperson, said: “The government should provide ₹40,000 for each cow”.

State govt. to wait for Centre’s decision on lifting lockdown

Government may gradually relax restrictions

10/04/2020, T. RAMAKRISHNAN

CM Edappadi K. Palaniswami presiding over a meeting with the 12 coordination teams constituted to fight the COVID-19 crisis, in Chennai on Thursday. B. JOTHI RAMALINGAMB_JOTHI RAMALINGAM

While Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Thursday said a decision on extending the COVID-19 lockdown will be taken in consultation with medical experts and others, officials indicated that the State may look up to the Centre for its decision. No unilateral decision will be taken, as done by Odisha.

Indicating the thinking on the part of the State government, a senior official said the administration was of the view that such a course of action would be more meaningful.

Before the Centre announces its decision, there will be no point in going ahead with extending the lockdown voluntarily and requesting the Centre not to operate flights and trains, the official said.

Another official pointed out that the Prime Minister had said the lockdown could not be lifted in one go.

If the Centre opts for a phased withdrawal, the State government can relax certain conditions for movement of people. But it may extend the lockdown in places such as malls, amusement parks and cinema halls, where people are likely to converge in large numbers.

AIADMK MP A. Navaneethakrishnan, who attended Wednesday’s meeting with the Prime Minister, said he had requested the Centre to ensure that vehicles originating from northern States carrying groceries and other essential commodities meant for Tamil Nadu, did not face hurdles on inter-State borders.

Mr. Navaneethakrishnan urged the Centre to accede to the State’s request for allocation of ₹3,000 crore needed for strengthening the health infrastructure and for essential equipment and medicines and the special grant of ₹9,000 crore to tackle the adverse impact of COVID-19 on the State economy, apart from expediting the release of arrears due to local bodies and funds under several components of Goods and Services Tax (GST) scheme.

Officials blame clerical error for discharge of COVID-19 patient

An employee reportedly made a wrong entry of the patient’s result

10/04/2020, S. PRASAD,VILLUPURAM

The Villupuram Government Medical College and Hospital T. SingaravelouT. Singaravelou

A day after the COVID-19 test results of a Delhi-based man turned out positive after he was released from quarantine at the Villupuram Government Hospital, the Health Department authorities in Villupuram claimed that a “clerical error” had led to the incident.

Top sources in the Health Department, on condition of anonymity, said the patient, aged 30, had come to Puducherry to attend an interview last month after which he reached Villupuram. He was staying in a Villupuram Red Cross facility when he developed fever and was admitted to the Villupuram Government Hospital on April 6.

“The treatment protocol for COVID-19 testing was followed and the throat swabs of the patient along with test samples of others were sent to the Villupuram Government Medical College and Hospital (VGMCH) at Mundiyambakkam here for testing the same day. While the test results of three others had come positive, the results of the Delhi man were pending and inconclusive. As per protocol, patients who had tested negative should be sent to the facility or home quarantine while the second round of confirmatory tests had to be taken for tests which were inconclusive or pending,” an official said.

The staff in the hospital, while feeding the results into the computer had made an error and mentioned his test results as negative. Based on this, the patient was discharged. The man was taken in a 108 ambulance to the quarantine facility operated by the Red Cross, from where he went missing.

Health Department officials said that that a minimum of 15 to 20 samples were sent every day to the hospital. “The department has requested the staff in the hospital to be more cautious to prevent such incidents,” an official said.

Meanwhile, the Villupuram district police have constituted seven special teams and intensified surveillance across the district to trace the man.

₹15,000 crore sanctioned to States

10/04/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

The Centre on Thursday announced that ₹15,000 crore has been sanctioned to States under the India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package.

The 100% Centrally-funded scheme will be utilised for immediate COVID-19 Emergency Response (₹7,774 crore) and rest for medium-term support (1-4 years). This is to be provided under a mission mode approach.

Announcing this, the Union Health Ministry noted that the key objectives of the package include mounting emergency response to slow and limit COVID-19 through the development of diagnostics and dedicated treatment facilities.

T.N. risks slipping to stage 3 of COVID-19 pandemic, says CM

‘Decision on lockdown extension after inputs from experts’

10/04/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

People passing through a disinfection tunnel at an Uzhavar Sandhai in Coimbatore on Thursday. M. PERIASAMYM_PERIASAMY

Tamil Nadu was in stage 2 of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the possibility of moving to stage 3 (community transmission), Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami said on Thursday.

After chairing a review meeting with members of 12 coordination teams at the Secretariat, he said that the government was taking proactive steps against the disease. “Measures to contain it at stage 2 are being taken,” he added.

About the possibility of extending the lockdown beyond April 14, Mr. Palaniswami said: “A decision will be taken only on the basis of the severity of the spread [of the pandemic]. The spread has been increasing day by day... Every other day, the coronavirus tally is on the rise.” Inputs of the 19-member medical experts’ team, along with recommendations from the 12 coordination teams, which include IAS officers, would be considered before deciding on extending the lockdown, he said.

Mr. Palaniswami called upon people with COVID-19 symptoms to go to nearby hospitals for treatment.

“People should not step out unnecessarily except for essentials. As I said earlier, shop and stock for a week... We don’t want to lose even a single life to this,” he added.

No significant rate of increase in COVID-19 positive cases: ICMR

Nationwide deaths at 169; Maharashtra toll climbs to 97 with 1,142 active cases

10/04/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,NEW DELHI

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Thursday said the country has maintained a steady rate of COVID-19 positive cases — 3% to 5% over the past month and half — and has registered no significant increase in this trend so far.

The country currently has 5,865 confirmed cases and 169 deaths. This includes 591 new cases and 20 deaths in the last 24 hours, Joint Secretary in the Union Health Ministry Lav Agrawal said at the daily press briefing. He added that 473 people had recovered and been discharged so far.

The ICMR noted that 1,44,910 samples from 1,30,792 individuals had been tested as on April 9. Of these, 5,734 samples tested positive till date. “Positivity rate ranges between 3%-5% with no major increase. On Wednesday, we tested 13,143 samples,’’ said ICMR official Manoj Murhekar.

Plasma therapy

Dr. Murhekar added that the Council was in the final stages of drawing up a protocol for trial on convalescent plasma therapy, for which approvals have to be taken.

“In this therapy, plasma from a COVID-19 recovered patient is transfused into an infected severely ill patient so that the specific antibodies in the blood of the recovered patient can help fight the infection. This is done for very ill patients on ventilators and has given good results in some studies abroad,” he said.

The nationwide death toll touched 205 on Thursday, State Health Departments reported. The number of active cases was 5,815. Maharashtra continued to report the maximum number of deaths, at 97, as well as active cases at 1,142. Tamil Nadu reported 799 active cases, with 96 new cases, while Delhi has 683 active cases with more three deaths since Wednesday.

The Big Dilemma: Saving Lives Vs Saving Livelihoods

Snehil Sinha & Durgesh Nandan Jha | TNN

10.04.2020

The lifting of the lockdown imposed to check the spread of Covid-19 across India has to be carefully managed, though social distancing will still be necessary in some form, agreed experts at the International Online Conference on Covid-19, organised by Bennett University on Thursday.

The challenge was to determine what should be done once the country came out of the lockdown, the experts said. They felt that the revival of India’s economy could not be entirely ignored, pitching it as a dilemma between saving lives and saving livelihoods.

NO MEDICAL REASON FOR EXTENDING LOCKDOWN EXCEPT IN HOTSPOTS

Concerned about the economic impact of the lockdown and how the country can phase out of it, Dr Devi Shetty, chairman, Narayana Hospitals, proposed that the hotspots could remain sealed, while other areas gradually opened up.

“We can say that we have reduced the mortality rate by 50% in India because of the early lockdown, which did not happen in many other countries. Going forward, we need to gradually lift the lockdown and have an unconventional exit strategy. There seems no medical reason to continue with the lockdown except in the hotspots. We proposed in Karnataka that public transport should start, but at 50% of capacity, and shops should open from early morning to late hours so people don’t crowd,” said Dr Shetty.

NEXT CHALLENGE IS IMMUNISING COUNTRY FROM HOTSPOTS

Dr Randeep Guleria, director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, said the next few weeks would remain testing, though the infection graph might not rise sharply due to the timely lockdown. He felt more data was needed to decide whether the lockdown should continue or not.

Dr Guleria said that the new challenge would be to prevent spread of infection from the hotspots to other areas. “The coronavirus battle can now be won not in hospitals, but in the community,” said the AIIMS director, while emphasising that containing Covid-19 is possible only through social distancing and regular hand washing.

LOCKDOWN ONLY TILL ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY

David Nabarro, World Health Organization’s special envoy on Covid-19, said, “No country wants to stay in lockdown for any longer than is absolutely necessary. So, the best thing to do now is to develop community level capacity for detection and isolation of positive cases.” He added that it was not easy to develop a vaccine against the coronavirus and tougher still to develop enough vaccines to immunise everyone on short notice. “With a lot of luck, we might have a vaccine within 18 months,” Nabarro said.

FOUR IMPERATIVES FOR COMING DAYS

Dr Dinesh Arora, IAS, former deputy chief executive officer, National Health Agency, and current Sommer scholar at Johns Hopkins University, USA, listed four strategies for a safer tomorrow: “Protect the high-risk groups, like population over 65 and health workers; continue lockdown in hotspots but open up the economy gradually; ramp up testing by leveraging the private sector; use technology for surveillance.”

To this, Professor Ashish Kumar Jha, director, Harvard Global Health Institute, USA, added two more: social distancing and testing isolation quarantine measure. “India needs to substantially ramp up testing and isolation to prevent the spread. It also needs to look at the economic cost and focus on a short, targeted lockdown,” Jha said.

CHINA AND ITALY BOTH ERRED

Professor Wenjuan Zhang, director of Center for India-China Studies at O P Jindal Global University, said China didn’t realise the magnitude of the crisis initially, but once it entered stage II of transmission, the government clamped a complete lockdown to limit its spread. Italy, according to Dr Beatrice Galleli of University of Bologna, failed to take the threat seriously at first. “We thought the problem existed in the Far East and wouldn’t ever reach the West. The government was also too wary of the economic fallout of a complete lockdown,” she said.

HOW TO EXPAND MEDICAL SAFETY NET

Dr Rajiv Kumar, vice-chairman of Niti Aayog, said an important learning for India from the Covid-19 pandemic was the imminent need to reduce the cost of medical education in the country and to attract talent back to India for healthcare research. “We have also realised that the informal sector needs to be provided social and medical safety nets. We should have resources available in future so we don’t have to make choices again between saving lives and saving livelihoods,” said Dr Kumar.

Salem region records 35 new cases, 14 discharged

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Salem/Erode:10.04.2020

With 26 new cases of Covid-19 in a single day, Erode in Salem region has recorded 58 positive cases so far, the third highest in the state after Chennai and Coimbatore. Till Thursday evening, there were 113 positive cases in Salem region, up from 78 cases a day before.

Tamil Nadu health secretary Beela Rajesh said the number of covid-19 patients in Erode district shot up to 58 from 32 cases in a day. “On Thursday, 26 patients tested positive in Erode,” she said. In Namakkal, the number of positive cases increased to 41from 33. In Salem district, one patient tested positive on Thursday, taking the total count to 14.

In Namakkal, the district administration has shifted all Covid-19 patients to Karur government medical college hospital because of better facilities. “All 41 Covid-19 patients are being treated in Karur government medical college hospital... and are stable ,” said district collector K Megraj.

In Salem, district collector S A Raman said that four patients out of 14 positive cases were doing fine and could be discharged from the Salem government medical college and hospital once the test results are out.

In Erode, 14 people with Covid-19 symptoms were discharged from the IRT government hospital on Thursday after successive test results came out negative. Erode collector C Kathiravan went to the hospital to give them a warm send-off.

The IRT government hospital has been converted as the special covid-19 facility. “We have nearly 90 people with Covid-19 symptoms who are being treated here... 26 of them are confirmed cases, while results are yet to come for the others. Fourteen people have been discharged as their test results were negative,” Kathiravan said.

However, all 14 patients who were discharged on Thursday have to remain in home quarantine for another three weeks. “Doctors and health department officials will monitor them round the clock in the next three weeks,” he said.

In Erode, 14 people with Covid-19 symptoms were discharged from the IRT government hospital on Thursday after successive test results came out negative. They will remain under home quarantine for 3 weeks

Doc, 95 test +ve, total TN cases hit 834

Pushpa.Narayan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:10.04.2020

Tamil Nadu added 96 more patients, including a doctor, to the Covid-19 positive list on Thursday taking the total number of cases to 834.

Doctors are also investigating the death of a 61-yearold man, who had been cured of the viral infection at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital on Monday. He suffered a massive cardiac arrest and died in the isolation ward on Thursday.

Doctors said two tests done 24 hours apart showed he was negative for the infection and he was added to the list of patients who were cured of the disease.

TAKING STOCK

137 pvt med college hospitals notified for Covid-19 treatment

The chief minister told reporters, “Initially, the families of positive cases will be tested, followed by neighbours, contacts and locals.” At least 137 private medical college hospitals have been notified by the government for Covid-19 treatment.

Hailing the state government staff for standing by the administration during challenging times, the chief minister called upon the people to support the doctors, paramedics, police, revenue and municipal administration staff, who carry out their duty with a sense of commitment, risking their lives.

Earlier, Palaniswami held a review meeting with the coordination committees of bureaucrats set up for various initiatives, including coordination with private hospitals, essential supplies, essential manufacturing, contact tracing, quarantine, isolation of patients who may be positive and health infrastructure.

As reports of shortage of commodities surfaced, the chief minister said the government has set up a price stabilisation fund to control price rise.

Instructions have been given to cooperative department to procure from the neighbouring states the items that were fo)und to be in shortage in Tamil Nadu and to sell the commodity to the people.

The district collectors have been told to decide on lockdown measures and act against violators of prohibitory orders.

Agriculture and municipal administration departments have engaged 3,500 mobile shops to supply vegetables and CMDA 100 mobile shops for supply in Chennai. About 2,000MT of vegetables were sold in mobile shops on Wednesday and 1,070MT through Uzhavar Sandhais.

Apology for a lockdown gives state Covid-19 hotspot tag

Unconcerned Citizens On The Roads, Weak Implementation Leave Tamil Nadu At Risk

Team TOI  10.04.2020

In the two weeks of lockdown, Tamil Nadu has moved from being a state with one of the lowest rates of infection to registering the second highest number of Covid-19 cases in the country. While the Tablighi Jamaat cluster linked to the group’s congregation in Delhi last month accounts for the largest number, neither the government nor the public appears to take social distancing norms seriously.

People in fish, vegetable and meat markets crowd together like a shoal of fish. Youth continue to roam about on twowheelers aimlessly. On Thursday, two people who tested Covid-19 positive on Mint Street in Chennai do not have any travel or contact history. Civic officials fear they could have got infected at a grocery or vegetable shop. Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has declared TN could be heading towards community infection stage.

If figures could sum up failure of the lockdown, 1.12 lakh cases were registered by state police for lockdown violations since March 24 midnight, more than 97,000 vehicles have been seized and 1.24 lakh people arrested and released on bail.

“There have been islands of success, mostly in villages. There is no denying that the vast majority of the population has stayed indoors. But success of a lockdown can be sabotaged by a miniscule segment of society that insists on not following the rules. “If police show leniency towards them, it reflects moral bankruptcy of the force,” said a serving DGP-level officer.

During the initial days of the lockdown, police were ruthless in handling violators. Motorists were stopped and fined, lathicharged and made to do sit-ups and duck walks on thoroughfares to dissuade them from venturing out again. Trichy city police commissioner V Varadharaju said, “A woman, who travelled from Srirangam to Chathiram bus stand to buy mushrooms on Wednesday was fined ₹500”. In Tiruvallur district, police are using an app to check if home quarantined people venture out.

“Police action became unpopular because they did not apply their mind. They went about thrashing doctors and newspaper vendors, exempted from lockdown. And of late, police are making a spectacle of themselves by pleading before lockdown violators,” said K Sathyanarayanan, a financial consultant.

Section 144 of CrPC does not allow congregation of more than four people. But the restriction should not be interpreted to mean that till the number touches four, police should not act. The spirit of the clause is to restrict movement of people for nonessential purposes. Moreover, the not-more-than-four clause is meant for riot-like situation. Since the Epidemics Act and the Disaster Management Act have also been invoked, police are well within their rights to question every single person on the road.

Courts have also backed the police. The Madras high court said it cannot do anything about action being taken against people who venture out without reason. While it asked police to be humane while handling violators, no court order was issued restraining police from wielding lathis or imposing other on-thespot punishments on violators.

Though government orders have made clear who can step out and for what, the state has not put in place enough systems to ensure people don’t have to step out. For example, in a residential colony of 2,000 houses, if everything from vegetables to groceries and medicines are delivered at the door step by people authorised by civic bodies (after ensuring they are free from infection), hardly five to six people would be moving around to distribute things. Now at least 500-600 people step out of their houses on a daily basis, said a police official.

Horticulture and dairy development departments have taken initiatives in the past one week to door deliver vegetables, fruits and milk. CMDA, which manages Koyambedu wholesale market, flagged off 500 vehicles with fruits and vegetables on Wednesday. Many district collectors and corporation commissioners have deployed vehicles for delivering vegetables at the doorstep of customers. Chennai corporation has engaged about 7,000 tricycles and autos to sell grocery items. But why did the government fail to sense this need on day one of the lockdown and why hasn’t the government made door delivery of essentials a state-wide policy yet? “No shop should be allowed to entertain walk-in customers. They should take orders over phone or apps and only door deliver commodities,” said Sathyanarayanan.

“There should be clear-cut distinction between what is a humanitarian gesture and what a criminal act. No political, religious, caste and social consideration should come into play for police while dealing with those who defy Section 144 of CrPC. Police should make an example of such violators,” said another senior IPS official.

Email your feedback to southpole.toi @timesgroup.com

IN THE RED: (Clockwise from top) It was business as usual at the Kasimedu harbour despite the call for social distancing during the lockdown; people thronged markets for vegetables especially on weekends; police register cases against violators in Chennai

Prospects abroad uncertain for students

‘There May Be 40%-50% Drop In Admissions’

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:10.04.2020

Shubham Khandelwal has got admission to one of the top 10 business schools in the UK, Warwick Business School. Paul Vineeth Thomas plans to do his bachelors course in hospitality, tourism and event management in James Cook University in Queensland, Australia. Now, the Covid-19 crisis has rendered their plans uncertain.

"I am hoping that things will settle down in next three months. If the lockdown continue for more than three months and then it would spoil all my plans. Our parents would be scared to send us," said Khandelwal.

His academic year is scheduled to start only in October.

“We expect 40% to 50% drop in foreign admissions due to coronavirus crisis," said Bala Ramalingam, director, BEC Global Private Limited. However, the universities are asking the consultancies to conduct the business as usual. A few universities have indicated that they may postpone the academic session. The qualifying tests such as Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and International English Language Testing System (IELTS) have been postponed.

Rahul Kumar, a city student who got admission in De Montfort university in UK said that the university has said classes would begin in September, without specifying the date. Rahul, currently pursuing BTech in a deemed university, said the lockdown and delay in the final exams was worrying him.

Students joining Australian universities are more tense as academic session starts in July. "I was planning to do my Bachelors at James Cook University in Australia. I was working for that and got an offer letter. Everything seemed clear, but now there is real uncertainty. I don’t know what will happen," said Paul Thomas. The admission officers from the university and consultants tell him that there would be a month's delay.

"If things clear by mid-June, I will go to Australia. If things continue may be I will go for the February intake," he said.

R Nandhini got admission to do masters in accounting and finance at the University of Adelaide. But, she is yet to decide on joining the university. "I am still on a dilema as we don't know when the crisis would end," she said.

The announcement of poststudy work visa by UK has increased the interest among Indian students to study in UK universities and consultancies witnessed a spike in interest.

"Due to the change in the visa rules, we expected 100% increase in number of students going to UK this year. But, Covid-19 crisis may bring down the number of students. Still, we expect 50% increase compared to last year," said Praveen Subramani, global admissions manager, SI-UK. In 2019-20, 30,000 students from India went to the UK universities. "The enquiries from the students would be at peak at this time. But, we have almost nil enquiries for past two weeks," said R Sureshkumar, managing director, Truematics - Overseas Education Consultancy, Chennai.

The qualifying tests such as Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and International English Language Testing System (IELTS) have been postponed

No decision yet on reopening Tasmac outlets, says govt

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:10.04.2020

The state government will take a call on consumers accessing liquor, including reopening Tasmac outlets for limited hours, only after there is clarity over any extension of the ongoing 21-day national lockdown.

Tasmac sources said the state government has not yet convened any meeting regarding public access to liquor on lines of other states during the lockdown period.

“Any decision on reopening liquor shops would be taken only when the final decision on extending the lockdown period is taken. Till then, the wine shops would remain closed,” a senior Tasmac official said.

While the excise department of the West Bengal government is contemplating home delivery of liquor for three hours every day, neighbouring Kerala had issued orders for supplying liquor to tipplers under prescription during the lockdown period.

However, the Kerala high court has stayed the state government’s decision to issue special passes to tipplers.

Asked about initiatives of other governments, Tamil Nadu government sources said the state’s excise department rules does not prohibit door delivery of liquor as the move does not require any amendments to the existing Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act, 1937.

“But, such actions are ruled out because our government may not allow door delivery. Still, the decision has to be taken at the highest level of the government as it also involves health aspects too,” the official added.

Any decision on reopening liquor shops would be taken only when the final decision on extending the lockdown period is taken. Till then, the wine shops would remain closed

Senior Tasmac Official

FIGHTING COVID-19

3 COMMITTEES BUT NO EXIT STRATEGY FOR TN

Kerala And Karnataka Have Come Up With State-Specific Plans

Pushpa.Narayan@timesgroup.com  10.04.2020

Tamil Nadu has no exit strategy from the Covid-19 lockdown, unlike its neighbours Kerala and Karnataka, which have released documents detailing their plans. TN has set up three committees -- a task force, a committee of medical experts and a think tank of multidisciplinary experts -- to help it contain the Covid-19 pandemic, but not one of them has addressed the question: What next?

“We don’t release documents. There will be a government order. That will be in line with what the Centre says,” said a senior official who is a member of the task force, which holds discussion with the chief secretary at least once a day.

But what about putting in place a state-specific strategy?

The expert medical committee with more than 19 members has decided not to submit a formal recommendation to the state government. One of its leading members said, “Unlike other states we were not asked to prepare the document. We were told the task force will do it.”

In the last four days, the task force has mulled over more than six options – between continuing and completely lifting the lockdown. “There is no consensus. And no one wants to take a decision that contradicts the Centre’s line. There is a fear because we are being proved wrong about every statement we made in the past,” he said.

Senior microbiologist Dr SP Thiyagarajan, who is also a member of the task force, said most chief ministers have told the Centre that the lockdown must continue. “The decision will be made as soon as the Centre announces its plan,” he said. “We meet and discuss plans every day. Most members have strongly recommended extension of the existing lockdown, with a more stringent enforcement,” he said.

Last week, health department officials say the state could not decide on the exit strategy because of the swelling number of Covid-19 cases and deaths. Health minister C Vijayabaskar initially announced they would be able to contain the disease in Tamil Nadu as it was a cluster. “He said that if the state isolates and treats them, we will be able to contain the virus. But that never happened,” said a senior health department official.

By Tuesday, officials realised that many of their primary contacts were now testing positive. “The virus is unpredictable. It is behaving differently in different countries. We are working out plans as we move into the battle field,” said health secretary Beela Rajesh Director of public health Dr K Kolandasamy has been advocating for need extension of a lock down. “We must continue to keep our border closed,” he said.

And what about the think tank? It provides mathematical models of how the infection can progress.

The problem is no one wants to bell the cat.

PICTURE THESE: The lockdown is unravelling new sights every day. While black-winged stilts can be seen in droves at the Perumbakkam lake, vendors have come out on the streets selling masks, which initially were being sold by pharmacies

New cases across the country top 750 in a day for first time

DurgeshNandan.Jha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:10.04.2020

India’s Covid-19 count rose sharply on Thursday with states confirming 781 new cases – by far the highest singleday tally and 30% more than the previous highest of 598 recorded on Wednesday, as per confirmed reports collated by TOIfrom the states.

Maharashtra led the surge with 229 fresh cases — the first time any state has reported more than 150 new cases — followed by Tamil Nadu (96), Rajasthan (80), Gujarat (76) and Delhi (51).

As many as 31deaths were reported in the country, taking the pandemic’s toll to 232. These include 15 from Maharashtra, and three in Delhi – two at Ram Manohar Lohia and one at Apollo.

The Covid-19 outbreak in Maharashtra continues to be worrisome. The state now accounts for 20% of all cases in India and, more worryingly, more than 40% of all coronavirus deaths. The state’s case fatality rate (CFR) rose from 6.2% on Wednesday to 7.1% on Thursday, more than double that of India’s 2.9%.

Gujarat records biggest spike with 76 new cases in 24 hrs

Gujarat also recorded its biggest spike with 76 new cases in the last 24 hours. This is 29% of the total cases registered so far. Ahmedabad, a national Covid-19 hotspot, has so far reported 143 cases, more than half of Gujarat’s total. In Rajasthan, 80 fresh cases for Covid-19 were recorded, which is also the highest single day tally for the state. The total count of the infected persons with the virus has surged to 463. There were two deaths in the state that of a 76-year-old man died in Jodhpur and a 65-year-old woman from Ramganj in Jaipur.

Madhya Pradesh witnessed two fresh Covid-19 deaths including that of a private medical practitioner taking the death toll in the state to 32. The doctor’s children, who live in Australia, watched the process of handover of his body on the phone.

Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan condoled his death and tweeted: “People like him won’t be forgotten. He sacrificed his life in service of people and fighting Covid-19.” One Covid-19 death was also recorded in Telangana where a 54-year-old woman died and 18 others tested positive for the disease taking the states tally to 471 cases and 12 deaths. While the death toll rose to 12, authorities said they were slightly relieved that for the first time in one week, the state registered less than 20 cases.

Odisha 1st to extend lockdown till Apr 30

Ashok.Pradhan@timesgroup.com

Bhubaneswar:10.04.2020

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday announced the extension of the ongoing lockdown to contain the Covid-19 pandemic to April 30. With this, Odisha became the first state to extend the 21-day national lockdown, which is set to end at April 14-15 midnight.

The state has also decided to request the Centre to extend the national lockdown and not restart train and flight services in the near future, Patnaik said and added that his government would test at least one lakh people for Covid-19, using rapid testing kits at the earliest. These announcements were made after he chaired a cabinet meeting via videoconferencing. “The state cabinet, which met today, decided that saving the lives of our people is the top most priority at this juncture,” he said.

3 teams but no exit strategy for TN yet

Unlike neighbours Kerala and Karnataka, TN is yet to finalise a lockdown exit strategy. TN has set up three panels — a task force, a committee of medical experts and a think-tank of multidisciplinary experts — to help it contain the Covid-19 pandemic. As per sources, the task force has come up with six options, but consensus remains elusive. P2

Education institutes in Odisha to remain closed till June 17: Patnaik

Naveen Patnaik said in a video message to the people of Odisha, “We have decided to extend the lockdown till April 30. While the Centre seems to be in favour of extending the lockdown too, it has not made its decision public yet.”

“We will recommend to the Government of India to extend the national lockdown up to April 30,” he said, adding, “At this crucial juncture, one has to decide between protecting the lives of the people and economic activity.”

About educational institutions in the state, Naveen said they would remain closed till June 17. “I know it involves a lot of sacrifice, hardship and uncertainty but this is the only way to face this crisis.”

The CM said discipline and sacrifice (of the people) had helped Odisha keep its Covid-19 patient tally low. The state has reported 44 positive cases since March 15, when it first detected its first case. The death toll in the state stands at one.

“In the same period, the US, a superpower, has moved from 3,000 to four lakh cases. The US has lost more people to Covid-19 than to all the wars (it has fought) and to the 9/11 attack put together. They have still not locked down the country as a whole,” Naveen said and reiterated the need for an extension of the ongoing lockdown to contain the infection’s spread.

The CM said activities related to agriculture, animal husbandry and MGNREGS would be facilitated during the lockdown but with strict adherence to social distancing norms.

Full report on www.toi.in

CM warns of stage III spread; TN to get 4 lakh rapid test kits

Buy Commodities For A Week, Don’t Go Out, Says EPS

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:10.04.2020

As Covid-19 positive cases soared in Tamil Nadu, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday expressed apprehension that the state may go to stage III of virus transmission and sought people’s support in combating the outbreak. Any decision on extending the lockdown will be based on the severity of the infection and views of the health department expert committee with which the CM is scheduled to hold a videoconference on Friday.

“We are in stage II transmission. There is a chance of it going into stage III transmission. The government is taking all steps to contain the spread in stage II… I request you all not to venture out unnecessarily. Get commodities to last you for a week. Protect yourself from this contagious disease,” he said. At least 32,371 beds in isolation wards are ready to treat Covid-19 patients in public and private hospitals.

On whether the state would extend additional cash support in view of lockdown extension, the CM said, “The government can afford to spend depending on how much money it has. The other state governments have not extended similar gesture and they also cut salaries of staff, but we haven’t.”

The state had placed orders to procure four lakh rapid test kits for quick screening and expected the arrival of 50,000 kits by Thursday night. The Union government will supply 20,000 kits on Friday.

Rapid testing kits from China to reach TN on Friday night

Hospital dean Dr R Jayanthi said, “Nevertheless, he continued to stay in the isolation ward because he had a block in his heart. He had hypertension and diabetes as well,” said . “We were happy when test results turned negative twice, but the virus had caused damage to his ailing heart. He developed abnormal heart rhythm and the pumping function was severely affected. We lost him,” she said.

Health secretary Beela Rajesh said 84 of those who tested positive were from the Tablighi Jamaat cluster, taking its total count to 763.Of the remaining 12 patients,threeofthem had inter-state travel history. The other nine included a doctor from Nagapattinam. The 67-year-old retired senior civil surgeon in the district was running a clinic in Velippalayam. Public health experts say he must have been infected while treating patients at his clinic.

Of the799 patients admittedto varioushospitals, six of them are sick and one of them is on ventilator support at a private hospital, the health secretary said.

So far, five doctors, a lab assistant and a PG naturopathy student have tested positive among health professionals. The Chennaibased doctor continues to remain on ventilator, but his condition is stable, doctors said. Hospitals across the state have discharged 27 patients who were cured of the viral infection. The state, she said, will be getting the rapid testing kits tonight from China.

FULL COVERAGE: P 2, 4-10, 13

Rlys may keep middle berths vacant for social distancing

ManthanK.Mehta@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:10.04.2020

Once train services resume, railways is mulling options like running special trains only in areas which are not hotspot zones, keeping middle berths vacant in three-tier coaches and disallowing unreserved travel to curb spread of the virus.

Railway board chief V K Yadav, at a video meeting with top railway officials, indicated that the government plans to divide the country into three zones — red, yellow and green — depending on number of cases, said sources.

In the ‘red’ zone, no transport service will be introduced, the ‘yellow; zone will have restricted services and ‘green’ will see no restriction in number of services.

“No decision has been made, but various measures are being discussed in case the government asks the railways to resume services while ensuring social distancing rules,” said a source.

Measures being considered include no allotment of the middle berth and no provision of any linen or food on trains till the number of cases starts reducing, said the source. Also, all scheduled trains which are part of the timetable could be cancelled and only special trains will be run.

To stop coronavirus-positive patients from boarding trains, thermal screening may be done at all entry points and passengers over 60 will not to be allowed to travel. Besides, wearing a mask may be a must and those who don’t will be penalised and made to disembark.

Also, no unreserved travel may be allowed so that every passenger can be tracked down, said the source.

Regarding, commencement of services from major cities, most metro cities, except for Kolkata, could be classified in the ‘red’ zone going by the current trend of positive cases across the country, according to the source.

“So, it may not be possible to start or terminate trains in Mumbai, Delhi, Secunderabad. Chennai, Bengaluru... Not until April 30 at least.”

15 மாவட்டங்களில் இன்று கனமழைக்கு வாய்ப்பு

By DIN | Published on : 09th April 2020 04:11 AM 

தமிழகத்தில் திருநெல்வேலி, ராமநாதபுரம், கடலூா், விழுப்புரம் உள்ளிட்ட 15 மாவட்டங்களில் வியாழக்கிழமை கனமழைக்கு வாய்ப்பிருப்பதாக சென்னை மண்டல வானிலை ஆய்வு மையம் தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

இதுகுறித்து வானிலை ஆய்வு மைய அதிகாரி கூறியதாவது:

தமிழகத்தில் பல்வேறு மாவட்டங்களில் கடந்த சில நாள்களாக வெப்பநிலை படிப்படியாக அதிகரித்து வருகிறது. இதன் தாக்கம் பகலில் உணரப்படுகிறது. பல இடங்களில் காலை 9 முதல் பிற்பகல் 3 மணி வரை வெயில் சுட்டெரித்து வருகிறது.

இதற்கிடையே வெப்பச்சலனம் காரணமாக ஒரு சில இடங்களில் அவ்வப்போது மழையும் பெய்து வருகிறது.

இதன் தொடா்ச்சியாக திருநெல்வேலி, தூத்துக்குடி, விருதுநகா், ராமநாதபுரம், மதுரை, சிவகங்கை, புதுக்கோட்டை, திருச்சி, தஞ்சாவூா், திருவாரூா், பெரம்பலூா், அரியலூா், நாகப்பட்டினம், கடலூா், விழுப்புரம் உள்ளிட்ட 15 மாவட்டங்களில் ஒரு சில இடங்களில் வெப்பச்சலனம் காரணமாக வியாழக்கிழமை கனமழை பெய்ய வாய்ப்புள்ளது.

சென்னையைப் பொருத்தவரை வானம் மேகமூட்டத்துடன் காணப்படும். அதிகபட்சமாக 95 டிகிரி பாரன்ஹீட் மற்றும் குறைந்தபட்சமாக 82.4 டிகிரி பாரன்ஹீட் பதிவாக வாய்ப்புள்ளது.

5 இடங்களில் வெயில் சதம்: தமிழகத்தைப் பொருத்தவரை அதிகபட்சமாக மதுரை விமான நிலையத்தில் 103 டிகிரியும், திருச்சி மற்றும் மதுரையில் தலா 101 டிகிரியும், திருத்தணி மற்றும் கரூா் பரமத்தியில் தலா 100 டிகிரியும் புதன்கிழமை வெயில் அளவு பதிவானது.

என்னை தகராறில் சிக்க வைக்க நடக்கும் சதி: மோடி எச்சரிக்கை ட்வீட்

By DIN | Published on : 08th April 2020 06:14 PM |

பிரதமர் மோடி

புது தில்லி: என்னை தகராறில் சிக்க வைக்க சதி நடப்பதாக பிரதமர் மோடி எச்சரிக்கை ட்வீட் செய்துள்ளார்.

பிரதமர் மோடியை கவுரவிக்க அனைவரும் 5 நிமிடங்கள் எழுந்து நில்லுங்கள் என சமூக வலைதளங்களில் புதன் மாலை வேகமாகத் தகவல் பரவியது.

இந்நிலையில் என்னை தகராறில் சிக்க வைக்க சதி நடப்பதாக பிரதமர் மோடி எச்சரிக்கை ட்வீட் செய்துள்ளார்.

இதுதொடர்பாக புதனன்று அவர் தனது ட்விட்டர் பக்கத்தில் தொடர்சியாகப் பதிவிட்டுள்ளதாவது:

பிரதமர் மோடியை கவுரவிக்க அனைவரும் 5 நிமிடங்கள் எழுந்து நில்லுங்கள் என சமூக வலைதளங்களில் சிலர் பிரசாரம் செய்து வருவதாக எனக்குத் தகவல் கிடைத்தது. முதலில் பார்க்கும்போது என்னைத் தகராறில் சிக்க வைக்க பெயரை பயன்படுத்தி சதி நடப்பதாகத் தோன்றுகிறது.

ஒருவேளையாரவது என்மீது உள்ள அபிமானத்தில் கூட செய்திருக்கலாம். ஆனால் நான் வலியுறுத்துவது என்னவென்றால், உண்மையிலேயே என்மீது அன்பும், எனக்கு மரியாதை செய்ய வேண்டும் என்ற எண்ணமும் இருந்தால், ஒரு ஏழைக் குடும்பத்தை கவனித்துக் கொள்ளுங்கள். கரோனா வைரஸ் இருக்கும்வரை இதுபோல தேவை இருக்கும். இதைவிட எனக்கு பெரிய மரியாதை எதுவும் இல்லை.

இவ்வாறு அவர் பதிவிட்டுள்ளார்.

ஊரடங்கு: ஏப்.15-இல் சென்னையிலிருந்து புறப்படும் ரயில்களில் காத்திருப்போா் பட்டியல்

By DIN | Published on : 09th April 2020 05:47 AM |

ஊரடங்கு அறிவிப்பு ஏப்ரல் 14-ஆம் தேதி நள்ளிரவுடன் நிறைவடையும் என்று அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள நிலையில், சென்னையில் இருந்து ஏப்ரல் 15-ஆம் தேதி இரவு தென் மாவட்டங்களுக்குப் புறப்படும் பல்வேறு ரயில்களின் இரண்டாம் வகுப்பு படுக்கை வசதி பெட்டிகளில் டிக்கெட் முன்பதிவு முடிந்து காத்திருப்போா் பட்டியல் காணப்படுகிறது.

உலகை அச்சுறுத்தும் கரோனா நோய்த்தொற்று தற்போது இந்தியாவில் வேகமாக பரவி வருகிறது. இதையடுத்து, மக்கள் பயணங்களை தவிா்க்கவும், சமூக இடைவெளியை கடைப்பிடிக்கும் நோக்கில், நாடு முழுவதும் 21 நாள்கள் ஊரடங்கு அறிவிக்கப்பட்டது. மேலும், விமானம், ரயில், பேருந்து சேவைகள் ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டது.

இந்த ஊரடங்கு அமலுக்கு வருவதற்கு ஓரிரு நாள்களுக்கு முன்னதாகவே, சென்னையில் இருந்து பல ஆயிரக்கணக்கான மக்கள் தங்கள் சொந்த ஊருக்குச் சென்று விட்டனா். மீதமுள்ள மக்கள், சொந்த ஊருக்கு செல்லமுடியாமல் சென்னையில் முடங்கி உள்ளனா். மேலும், மாணவா்கள், பல குடும்பங்கள் தங்கள் வீடுகளுக்குச் செல்ல முடியாமல் தவிக்கின்றனா். இவா்கள், ஊரடங்கு முடிந்தபிறகு, ஏப்ரல் 15-ஆம் தேதி ஊருக்குச் செல்ல திட்டமிட்டுள்ளனா்.

இந்நிலையில், சென்னையில் இருந்து ஏப்ரல் 15-ஆம் தேதி இரவு தென் மாவட்டங்களுக்குப் புறப்படும் பல்வேறு ரயில்களின் இரண்டாம் வகுப்பு படுக்கை வசதி பெட்டிகளில் டிக்கெட் முன்பதிவு முடிந்து காத்திருப்போா் பட்டியல் நிலவுகிறது. இதுபோல, வெளி மாநிலங்களுக்கு புறப்படும் விரைவு ரயில்கள் இரண்டாம் வகுப்பு படுக்கை வசதி பெட்டிகளில் முன்பதிவு முடிந்து காத்திருப்போா் எண்ணிக்கை நிலவுகிறது.

காத்திருப்போா் எண்ணிக்கை: திங்கள்கிழமை இரவு நிலவரப்படி, சென்னையில் இருந்து ஏப்ரல் 15-ஆம் தேதி இரவு மதுரைக்குப் புறப்படும் பண்டியன் விரைவு ரயிலில் காத்திருப்போா் எண்ணிக்கை 58-ஆக இருந்தது. தூத்துக்குடிக்குப் புறப்படும் முத்துநகா் விரைவு ரயிலில் ஆா்.ஏ.சி. எண்ணிக்கை 108-ஆக இருந்தது. நாகா்கோவிலுக்குப் புறப்படும் அனந்தபுரி விரைவு ரயிலில் காத்திருப்போா் எண்ணிக்கை 21-ஆகவும், தென்காசிக்குப் புறப்படும் பொதிகை விரைவு ரயிலில் காத்திருப்போா் எண்ணிக்கை 42-ஆகவும், திருநெல்வேலிக்குப் புறப்படும் நெல்லை விரைவு ரயிலில் காத்திருப்போா் எண்ணிக்கை 36-ஆகவும் இருந்தது.

வெளி மாநிலங்களுக்கு செல்லும் ரயில்களில் நிலவரம்: இதுபோல, சென்னை சென்ட்ரலில் இருந்து புதுதில்லிக்குப் புறப்படும் தமிழ்நாடு விரைவு ரயிலில் காத்திருப்போா் எண்ணிக்கை 172-ஆக இருந்தது. திருவனந்தபுரம் மெயில் ரயிலிலும் இரண்டாம் வகுப்பு படுக்கை வசதி பெட்டிகளில் காத்திருப்போா் எண்ணிக்கை காட்டியது. பெங்களூரு மெயில், மும்பை மெயில் ஆகிய ரயில்களில் ஆா்.ஏ.சி. பட்டியல் காணப்பட்டது. இதுபோல, தென் மாவட்டங்களில் இருந்து ஏப்ரல் 15,16, 17 ஆகிய தேதிகளில் இரவு சென்னைக்குப் புறப்படும் பல ரயில்களிலும் டிக்கெட் முன்பதிவு முடிந்து, காத்திருப்போா் பட்டியல் காணப்பட்டது.

இது குறித்து ரயில்வே அதிகாரி ஒருவரிடம் கேட்டபோது, ‘ஊரடங்கு அறிவிக்கப்படுவதற்கு முன்பே சில டிக்கெட்கள் முன்பதிவு செய்யப்பட்டிருக்க வேண்டும். டிக்கெட்களுக்கான தேவை பொதுவாக ஏப்ரல் மாதத்தில் அதிகமாக இருந்தாலும், பொது விடுமுறைக்கு (ஏப்ரல் 14-ஆம் தேதி பொது விடுமுறை) ஒருநாளுக்குப் பிறகு, சென்னையில் இருந்து பலா் பயணிக்க மாட்டாா்கள். தென் மாவட்டங்களுக்கு புறப்படும் ரயில்களில் இரண்டாம் வகுப்பு படுக்கை வசதி பெட்டிகளில் டிக்கெட் விற்று தீா்ந்துள்ளது. வரும் நாள்களில் மற்ற டிக்கெட்கள் பதிவு செய்யப்படலாம். டிக்கெட் முன்பதிவு எல்லாம் ஏப்ரல் 10-ஆம் தேதிக்குப் பிறகு தான் தெளிவாக தெரியவரும்’ என்றாா் அவா்.

மண்டபத்தை தந்த ரஜினி, வைரமுத்து

Added : ஏப் 08, 2020 22:56

சென்னை : கமல், விஜயகாந்தை தொடர்ந்து ரஜினியும், வைரமுத்துவும், அவர்களின் திருமண மண்ட பத்தை, கொரோனா சிகிச்சைக்காக பயன்படுத்திக் கொள்ள அனுமதி அளித்துள்ளனர்.

கொரோனா வைரஸ் பரவலை தடுக்க, நாடு முழுதும், மத்திய, மாநில அரசுகள் பல்வேறு நடவடிக்கையை எடுத்து வருகின்றன. ஊரடங்கை தொடர்ந்து, வைரஸ் பாதித்தவர்களுக்கான சிகிச்சை பிரிவுகள் பரவலாக அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன. வைரஸ் தொடர்ந்து பரவும் பட்சத்தில், ஊரடங்கை மேலும் நீட்டிக்கவும், பல மாநிலங்கள் முன்வந்துள்ளன.இந்நிலையில், நடிகரும், மக்கள் நீதி மையம் கட்சித் தலைவருமான கமல், தன் அலுவலகத்தை, கொரோனா பாதித்தவர்களுக்கு, சிகிச்சை அளிக்க பயன்படுத்திக் கொள்ளலாம் என, அறிவித்தார்.

அவரைத் தொடர்ந்து, நடிகரும், தே.மு.தி.க., தலைவருமான, விஜயகாந்தும், தன் கட்சி அலுவலகம் மற்றும் கல்லுாரி வளாகத்தை பயன்படுத்திக்கொள்ளலாம் என, அறிவித்தார். இந்நிலையில், நடிகர் ரஜினி, கோடம்பாக்கத்தில் உள்ள ராகவேந்திரா திருமண மண்டபத்தை, கொரோனா வைரஸ் பாதித்தவர்களுக்கு சிகிச்சை அளிக்க, அரசு பயன்படுத்திக் கொள்ளலாம் என, தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.இதற்கு முன், 2015ல், சென்னையில் ஏற்பட்ட வெள்ள பாதிப்பின் போது, மக்கள் தங்குவதற்காக, திருமண மண்டபத்தை கொடுத்ததுடன், உணவும் கொடுத்தார் ரஜினி.

ரஜினியை போலவே, கவிஞர் வைரமுத்துவும், சூளைமேட்டில் உள்ள பொன்மணி மாளிகையை, அரசு பயன்படுத்திக் கொள்ளும்படி, கடிதம் வாயிலாக தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

மருத்துவ பொருட்களுக்கு 'டெண்டர்' வேண்டாம்

Added : ஏப் 08, 2020 22:35

சென்னை : கொரோனா நோய் தடுப்புக்கு தேவையான, மருத்துவ உபகரணங்கள், பாதுகாப்பு கவசங்கள் உள்ளிட்ட பொருட்களை, அவசர தேவைக்கு கொள்முதல் செய்ய, ஒப்பந்த சட்டத்தில் இருந்து விலக்கு அளித்து, அரசு உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.

கொரோனா நோய் தொற்று ஏற்பட்டவர்களுக்கு சிகிச்சை அளிக்கும், டாக்டர்கள், செவிலியர்கள் மற்றும் மருத்துவ பணியாளர்களுக்கு தேவையான, முக கவசங்கள், பாதுகாப்பு கவசங்கள், மருத்துவ உபகரணங்கள் போன்றவற்றை வாங்க, நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.பேரிடர் மேலாண்மை சட்டத்தின் கீழ், கொரோனா தொற்று நோய், பேரிடராக அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. கொரோனா தடுப்பு பணியில், சுகாதாரத் துறை, வருவாய் மற்றும் பேரிடர் மேலாண்மை, பொதுப்பணி, தமிழ்நாடு நுகர்பொருள் வாணிபக் கழகம், ஊரகம் மற்றும் நகர்ப்புற வளர்ச்சித் துறைகள் ஈடுபட்டுள்ளன.

எனவே, நோய் பாதுகாப்பு கவசங்கள், நோய் தடுப்பு உபகரணங்கள், மருந்துகள், மருத்துவ உள்கட்டமைப்புக்கு தேவையான மரப் பொருட்கள், தனிமைப்படுத்தும் மையங்களை ஏற்படுத்த தேவையான பொருட்கள், அத்தியாவசிய பொருட்கள் போன்றவற்றை, அவசர தேவைக்கு வாங்கிக் கொள்வதற்கு வசதியாக, இத்துறைகளுக்கு, தமிழ்நாடு வெளிப்படையான ஒப்பந்த சட்டத்தில் இருந்து, விலக்கு அளிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.எனவே, சம்பந்தப்பட்ட துறைகள், தேவைக்கேற்ற பொருட்களை, நேரடியாக கொள்முதல் செய்து கொள்ள முடியும். இது தொடர்பாக, சம்பந்தப்பட்ட துறை செயலர்களுக்கு, நிதித்துறை செயலர், கிருஷ்ணன் கடிதம் எழுதி உள்ளார்.

மருத்துவ ஆய்வுக்கு ஊக்குவிப்பு இல்லை

Added : ஏப் 09, 2020 00:26

சென்னை : 'மருத்துவ துறையில் புதிய கண்டுபிடிப்புகளுக்கும் ஆராய்ச்சிக்கும் போதிய நிதி ஒதுக்குவதில்லை' என சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றம் வேதனை தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

ஈரோடு மாவட்டம் கோபிச்செட்டிப்பாளையத்தைச் சேர்ந்த ஓய்வுபெற்ற சுகாதார ஆய்வாளர் மாதேஸ்வரன் தாக்கல் செய்த மனு:'கொரோனா வைரஸ்' கிருமியை கட்டுப்படுத்த சஞ்சீவி மூலிகை கூறுகளால் மருந்து கண்டுபிடித்துள்ளேன். அதை அறிவியல் ரீதியாக நிரூபிக்கிறேன். இந்த மருந்து குறித்து சுகாதாரத் துறை அதிகாரிகளிடம் விளக்கம் அளிக்கிறேன். அவர்கள் முன் ஆஜராகி பரிசோதிக்க அனுமதிக்க வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு மனுவில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.மனு நீதிபதிகள் கிருபாகரன் ஹேமலதா அடங்கிய 'டிவிஷன் பெஞ்ச்' முன் விசாரணைக்கு வந்தது. அரசு தரப்பில் கூடுதல் அட்வகேட் ஜெனரல் அரவிந்த்பாண்டியன் ஆஜராகி ''ஏற்கனவே நியமிக்கப்பட்ட குழு முன் மனுதாரர் முறையிடலாம்'' என்றார்.

அப்போது நீதிபதிகள் கூறியதாவது:நாட்டில் சிறந்த மருத்துவர்கள் ஆராய்ச்சியாளர்கள் உள்ளனர். இருந்தாலும் மருத்துவத் துறையில் புதிய கண்டுபிடிப்புகளுக்கும் ஆராய்ச்சிக்கும் மத்திய மாநில அரசுகள் உரிய ஊக்குவிப்பு அளிப்பது இல்லை; போதிய நிதியும் ஒதுக்குவது இல்லை.தடுப்பு மருந்துகளை பொறுத்தவரை மற்ற நாடுகளுடன் ஒப்பிடும்போது பெரிய கண்டுபிடிப்புகள் எதையும் மேற்கொள்ளவில்லை. கொரோனா வைரஸ் கட்டுப்படுத்த இந்திய மருத்துவ முறையில் மருந்துகள் உள்ளதா என்பதை ஏன் ஆய்வு செய்யக் கூடாது? இவ்வாறு நீதிபதிகள் கூறினர்.இவ்வழக்கில் மத்திய மருத்துவ ஆராய்ச்சி கவுன்சில் மற்றும் ஆயுஷ் துறையையும் சேர்த்து பதில் அளிக்க நீதிபதிகள் உத்தரவிட்டனர்.