Lab technicians, the invisible Covid warriors

Sukshma.R@timesgroup.com

Madurai:  4.5.2020

Though largely invisible and working behind the scenes, scientists and lab technicians are among the frontline workers in fight against Covid-19. Equipped to process up to 1,000 samples per day, the 21-member Covid-19 testing team at the Virus Research Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) in Madurai Medical College (MMC) say the lab has tested around 12,000 samples so far.

The virology lab at MMC, which was cleared to start Covid-19 testing by March 25, has been receiving samples from five different districts. The team consists of VRDL staff, Multi-Disciplinary Research Laboratory (MRL) staff and microbiology post graduates.

“First we had only five members in the testing team as we were getting only around 50 samples per day. Later, by mid-April, we started getting anywhere between 500-1,000 samples per day. Now, we have a 21-member team working in three shifts and processing a minimum of around 500 samples. It is not a job for everyone and requires dedication and patience,” said T Ram, a scientist.

The entire testing process generally takes up to six hours. “For one batch, 96 samples are taken to the lab after being numbered. RNA extraction is then done, which requires us to be fully dressed in Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs). The extraction takes up to three hours after which the 95 samples with reagents added and one positive control sample is loaded onto the Real Time-PCR machine. The machine takes around another three hours to process the results, during which we can’t waste time and move on to RNA extraction for the next batch,” said Ram. The team has to wear PPE for a minimum of around 6 hours. “Initially, it was really tough but we don’t have a choice so we got used to it. We can’t drink water or use the restroom while wearing PPEs. For women, it is more difficult to not to use the restroom, especially on days when are having periods. But somehow we are managing as we have to get the job done,” said S Keerthana, a lab technician. There are seven women members on the team.

ROUND-THE-CLOCK

Panchayat president opens ₹1 idli shop for farmhands

Deepak.Karthik@timesgroup.com

Trichy:  4.5.2020

Inspired by Kamalathal, an octogenarian woman who sell idlis for ₹1 a piece in Coimbatore district, M Palanisamy, 48, of Venkatachalapuram village near Pullambadi in the district, has opened a low-cost eatery to serve the villagers.

The eatery, named after K Kamaraj, sells idlis for ₹1 per piece every morning during the lockdown. He has named it after the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu in gratitude for facilitating an irrigation canal in the village.

Palanisamy, president of Venkatachalapuram panchayat, said he was moved by reading the story of 82-yearold Kamalathal who sells idlis for Re1. Not associated with any political party, he launched the low-cost eatery at the Kamarajar mandram in his panchayat to serve farmhands. Launched on May 1, Palanisamy and two of his workers sell 650-675 idlis per day.

Since the idlis priced at Re1 come with sambhar and chutney, villagers who earlier skipped breakfast are reaping the benefits during the lockdown. All the idlis would be sold out between 7am and 9am as there are no other hotels in the village, home to 2,000 families. “Kamarajar was the reason behind the Pullambadi canal, a distributary of Cauvery passing through our village. Agriculture has sustained in our village only because of that canal, we are indebted to him,” Palanisamy told TOI.

As the preparation cost of each idli is ₹2.25, Palanisamy is incurring a loss of ₹1.25 per idli. Villagers were told to bring their own vessels and maintain social distancing when they come to buy the idlis. “We occasionally skip breakfast to save money. But the Re1 idli has helped us beat the hunger,” said P Bhakyam, a 70-year-old woman from Venkatachalapuram.

M Palanisamy, 48, of Venkatachalapuram village opened the shop after being inspired by Kamalathal, an octogenarian woman who sell idlis for ₹1 a piece in Coimbatore district

Motorists wear face masks but not helmets during pandemic

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  4.5.2020

With lockdown still in force across the city, motorists who are venturing out with a face mask on are giving the helmet a miss. Police ,who are concentrating more on those venturing out without a permit during the pandemic, are failing to pay the necessary attention to the ones without a helmet.

This is despite the fact that 90 percent of the fatalities caused are due to riding without protection.

But the police claim that they have registered more than 30000 cases against motorists who have been flouting the rules since lockdown.

Though the number of check points have been increased across the city, it is mostly law and order personnel who are manning these checkpoints and since they cannot book helmet violation cases, they just question them and let them go even without levying them with a fine.

Most of the riders are also taking liberty and coming out without helmet as they are aware that the police are unlikely to book them under these circumstances.

Also the checks on helmet is only done on the main arterial roads like Anna Salai and Poonamallee High Road, whereas the bikers who travel in the bylanes go scot free.

With no vehicles out on the road, chances of accidents are high, as the motorists tend to speed up on the empty roads.

“Police should concentrate on helmet offence even now. I see most of the youngsters on bike roaming around the city without helmet. I have wondered many times why they are not being caught,” said Sharadha, a senior citizen from Kilpauk.

A traffic police official at Teynampet signal blamed the motorists saying many of them presume that they can go without wearing helmet when go to nearby areas.

“Road accidents can be prevented only if the motorists realize their responsibility and follow the traffic rules with self-discipline,” he said.

A senior police officer said that the instructions remain the same whether it is lockdown or normal days, an offence is an offence. “We have in fact fining both riders and pillion riders,” he said.

STILL A VIOLATION: Two-wheeler riders are going unpunished despite not wearing helmets

‘Aggressive testing identifies more cases’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:4.5.2020

The agressive testing has led to more number of Covid-19 positive cases being identified in Chennai and the numbers could go up further in the coming week, said special nodal officer for Greater Chennai Corporation J Radhakrishnan. He, however, stressed that people should not worry about the numbers and sought the cooperation of the public, especially in the containment zones.

The high numbers were a sign that the government’s testing strategy was correct and containment efforts were on the right track, he said. On Sunday, 203 cases were reported in Chennai taking the total number of positive cases in the city to 1458.

On the clusters in the city, Radhakrishnan said that one of the public toilet outside the containment zone emerged as a potential source of infection at Munuswamy Nagar adjacent V R Pillai Street in Triplicane (Teynampet zone) , where more than 50 people had been infected.

On Sunday, 14 more people in the neighbourhood tested positive. “This is a problem we have identified now and are making changes to stop spread. We disinfect containment zones every day and take people for testing as soon as we know they are probable contacts. The virus spreads quickly among people,” he said.

Radhakrishnan addressed the media after launching four bike ambulances that will act as first responders to give first aid in containment zones and also to create awareness. They can cover narrow lanes and bylanes in the most affected North and Central Chennai pockets where ambulances can’t reach.

Radhakrishnan, who is also the commissioner for revenue and disaster management, said that the challenge in Chennai was in five zones – Tondiarpet, Royapuram, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Teynampet and Kodambakkam (Zones 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10). He appealed to people to extend co-operation and not assume that they will not be infected. “Even in containment zones, people are not wearing masks. Two layers of cloth is enough for a mask. Even yesterday, while on rounds from Central to Basin Bridge and in Anna Nagar we noticed people without masks. When we ask, people say they don’t have symptoms. That should not be a reason,” Radhakrishnan said.

On the rise in the number of positive cases among frontline workers like police and fire personnel, the special officer said that they have created a separate schedule to test frontline staff. According to Radhakrishnan, more personnel will be recruited in public health department and in Corporation to fight the pandemic.

STAYING VIGILANT: Bike ambulances have been launched by Greater Chennai Corporation to give first aid in containment zones and create awareness

Even in containment zones, people are not wearing masks. Two layers of cloth are enough for a mask. When we ask, people say they don’t have symptoms. That should not be a reason

J Radhakrishnan | SPECIAL NODAL OFFICER FOR CHENNAI CORPORATION

No date for final yr exams yet, but colleges begin prep

Higher Education Department Adopts Wait & Watch Policy

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:4.5.2020

The higher education department is yet to announce dates for semester exams, but colleges and universities have begun preparations, keeping in mind the need to follow social distancing norms.

To reduce students per classroom, some institutions are planning to reduce exam duration, splitting students into two batches and conduct online exams.

The University Grants Commission has suggested that semester exams be conducted from July 1 to 31. But the situation in Tamil Nadu, where the number of Covid-19 positive cases is increasing, has made the higher education department adopt a ‘wait and watch’ policy.

Educational institutions are, however, keeping themselves busy, ensuring that they will be in a position to hold the exams whenever the government gives its nod.

Guru Nanak College principal M G Ragunathan said they planned to reduce the exam duration from three hours to two hours and conduct exams in two sessions a day.

“The written exam is only for 50 marks. It would help prevent students gather outside the college in large numbers before and after the exams,” he said.

The college also plans to make available sanitizers and masks to the students during the exams.

“If we plan well, exams for final year students can be conducted in a week and we can evaluate answer scripts in a week,” he added.

S Kothai, principal of Ethiraj College for Women which has more than 8,000 students, said they usually had around 50 girls in a class during an exam.

“Now, we plan to reduce it to 20 or 25 students so that social distancing is maintained.”

More than 3,000 students would appear for each session and the college was planning to reduce the number of students, she said, adding that the management was also thinking of conducting online exams to MBA and MCA students.

University of Madras vice-chancellor P Duraisamy said the exam schedule would be planned based on the state government’s direction. “It is possible to conduct exams by maintaining social distancing norms once colleges are allowed to function.

“We will conduct exams only for final year students which means one-third of the students alone would come to the college. We can even split final year students into two batches - BCom students and others.” More than 50% of the university’s undergraduates are B Com students.

Anna University is also planning to conduct exams semester wise to maintain social distancing norms when colleges reopene.

“We will start with eighth semester students and conduct exams semester wise,” an official from the university said.

Many students in engineering colleges are from outside the state and some are from outside the country.

“If we have to conduct exams, transport needs to be restored.

“We will give priority to final year students and will help them to finish their courses as soon as possible,” said vice-chancellor M K Surappa.

Higher education minister K P Anbalagan said the state government would take a call on conducting exams after seeing how Covid-19 situation pans out.

“UGC has recommended a schedule for conducting exams. But, we will take a decision based on the situation in the state,” he said.

The University Grants Commission has suggested that semester exams be conducted from July 1 to 31. But the situation in Tamil Nadu, where the number of Covid-19 positive cases is increasing, has made the higher education department adopt a ‘wait and watch’ policy. Educational institutions are, however, keeping themselves busy

Rlys needs 6hrs to ready trains for guest workers, but no requests from govt yet

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:4.5.2020

Southern Railway will need at least six hours to prepare a 24-coach train to ferry guest workers home, after the state government sends a request. But the zone is yet to get such a request from the government.

Since, passenger trains are not being operated during the lockdown, rakes parked in the yards need to be checked, cleaned and released for service. Around 50 employees may be needed at the yard for this.

A senior railway official said efforts are on to ensure that trains can be arranged at the shortest possible notice. “It will be easy to prepare coaches as shutdown restrictions are being relaxed and more employees are supposed to report for work on Monday. Hence, a rake can be arranged quicker. If a request comes in the morning, a train can be arranged for departure by 3pm or 4pm,” he added.

Since passenger services are not going to be operated till May 17, sparing a rake will be easy.

“Bringing the workers from their camps, grouping them according to the destinations they want to go to, arranging food for them and other preparation will take some time. Trains can be readied by then,” said an official.

Going by the number of guest workers stuck in camps and shelters run by the government, the city may need several trains to transport them. One train can carry 1,000 passengers or less because of social distancing norms.

“Four passengers will be allowed in a coupe as middle berths are not to be occupied. Only one person is allowed to sit on the side seats because of social distancing requirements. Only 54 people will be allowed to travel in a coach.”

As the guest workers have already been sent from Kerala by trains, railway officials are worried that guest workers in Tamil Nadu may throng the railway stations as it happened on March 25, demanding trains to take them home.

WAITLISTED: Thousands of guest workers have left Kerala on special trains to their native places. The many guest workers stranded in Chennai have been demanding that they be sent home

Apply online for passes for cooks, house help: Corpn

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:4.5.2020

People employed as house help and cooks can return to work from Monday, but will need to apply for a pass from the Greater Chennai Corporation.

The civic body’s commissioner G Prakash on Sunday announced that those employing domestic help and cooks can apply for passes online at tnepass.tnega.org.

Apart from this, self-employed workers such as plumbers, electricians, airconditioner servicemen, carpenters, home care providers for people with special needs and others can also apply for permission through the same website, GCC informed through a press release.

Meanwhile, shops selling essential goods can function from 6am to 5pm. E-commerce service providers handling food and essential commodities can deliver as per the time already permitted. Restaurants will be allowed to function from 6am to 9pm.

Prakash also announced that all construction activities in the city can start from Monday, but only with workers staying in-situ (within the construction site). Proper precautions like masks and social distancing will have to be followed. However, this doesn’t apply to sites which are in containment zones.

SEZ, EOU, export units, import export companies after due inspection and approval by the commissioner can be started with 25% of the workforce. IT and IT-enabled services will be allowed to function only with 10% of workforce (minimum 20 employees). The employees should travel only in vehicles operated by the respective organisations. The companies can apply for travel passes on the same website.

Shops selling construction, hardware, cement, construction material, sanitary ware and electrical items shall be allowed from 9am to 5pm. Shops dealing in servicing mobile phones, selling other electronics, motors, spectacles and household appliances will be permitted to function from 10am to 5pm.

The corporation has sent notices to around 750 marriage halls in the city saying they will be converted into quarantine centres if needed.