Customers flock to markets, mobile phone showrooms

Customers flock to markets, mobile phone showrooms

12/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,DINDIGUL/THENI

Police personnel regulating traffic in Dindigul on Monday.G. Kartikeyan

Showrooms and small eateries started functioning in Dindigul district on Monday.

Customers started arriving at automobile workshops from 7 a.m. Many bikers could not start their vehicles as they had not used them for a long time, said Esakki, a mechanic at Round Road.

In a welcome sign, a police officer regulating traffic near Main Road said people by and large wore face mask and head gear while travelling.

Teashop owners too said customers adhered to social distancing norms voluntarily.

Besides flocking to vegetable markets, many could be seen buying fresh greens from road side vendors in and around South Car Street and Big Bazaar areas.

Mobile phone showrooms were crowded, but the sales personnel regulated physical distancing among customers. Paint shops, hardware stores and other showrooms functioned without air-conditioners.

The Chamber of Commerce thanked Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami for relaxing curfew norms, saying it was the need of the hour to revive money flow.

In Dindigul, the number of positive cases crossed 100 last week and the number of discharged patients stood at 79.

Theni district

In neighbouring Theni district, all 34 categories of shops and establishments opened at 7 a.m.

In Andipatti, Periyakulam and Theni town, markets saw brisk sale as people from interior villages arrived in two-wheelers as public transport and private autos were off the roads. In Cumbum, Uthamapalayam and Bodinayakkanur, farming activities took place on a small-scale.

The grocery stores in and around bus stand functioned.

Tender coconut and water melon were the most preferred among customers. Petrol pumps and vulcanising shops also saw good crowds.

The district administration reported 59 positive cases, with 42 discharged from Theni Government Medical College Hospital.

On Sunday, three fresh cases were reported including from Kadamalaikundu. The areas were identified as containment zone.

₹6,195 crore released to 14 States

₹6,195 crore released to 14 States

12/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

The Centre released ₹6,195.08 crore to 14 States on Monday as the second equated monthly instalment of the Post Devolution Revenue Deficit Grant as recommended by the 15th Finance Commission.

“This would provide [them] with additional resources during the COVID-19 crisis,” Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a tweet.

The biggest chunk will go to Kerala, which will get ₹1,276 crore. Himachal Pradesh will get ₹952 crore while Punjab will get ₹638 crore. Other States which will benefit are Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.

Get ready to ramp up economic activity: PM

12/05/2020

“Even as we look at the gradual withdrawal of the lockdown, we should constantly remember that till we do not find a vaccine or a solution, the biggest weapon with us to fight the virus is social distancing,” Mr. Modi said.

Apart from asking for an extension of the lockdown, several States like Bihar, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh expressed misgivings about restoration of train services. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar reportedly said that as a former Railway Minister “he knew better than most” how it could lead to a rapid spread of the disease at this crucial juncture. The railways announced on Sunday evening that it would be running 15 trains in pairs from May 12 to select destinations in a partial opening of till now shuttered passenger services.

While five States asked for an extension of lockdown, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said it was time that the country “learned to live with coronavirus,” indicating that he was in favour of some opening up of the economy.

Mr. Kejriwal also said that instead of “red” or “green zones,” containment zones be demarcated within districts to signify open and locked down areas.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel was vehement that States be left to decide containment and open zones and draw up micro plans for themselves.

‘Review of lockdown on May 15 and 17’

‘Review of lockdown on May 15 and 17’

12/05/2020, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

The Centre and the State government on Monday informed the Madras High Court that they would be taking a call on either extending or lifting the lockdown on May 15 and 17 respectively and only then a decision would be taken on reopening religious institutions.

Justices Vineet Kothari and Pushpa Sathyanarayana recorded the submission made by Central Government Standing Counsel Srinivasamoorthy and Additional Advocate General S.R. Rajagopal.

Deemed varsities release entrance test schedule

Deemed varsities release entrance test schedule

12/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, CHENNAI

The SRM Joint Entrance Examination Engineering (SRMJEEE) for B.Tech courses for the academic year 2020-2021 will be held from July 30 to August 4. Successful candidates will be admitted to SRM Institute of Science and Technology (earlier SRM University), Kattankulathur (Main Campus); Vadapalani; Ramapuram; and Delhi – NCR; SRM University in AP; Sonepat in Haryana; and Sikkim.

Hall ticket may be downloaded in the third week of July.The two hour and 30-minute computer-based test will have 125 multiple choice questions with no negative marks for wrong answers.

Counselling is expected to be held in the second and third week of August. The last date for applying has also been extended.

Sathyabama Institute of Science Technology will conduct the entrance exam for admission to BE, B.Tech, B.Arch and B.Des courses from August 3 to 5. The results will be announced on August 8 and online counselling will begin on August 12.

Plasma therapy trial begins at MMC

Plasma therapy trial begins at MMC

12/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, CHENNAI

The clinical trial for convalescent plasma therapy commenced at the Madras Medical College with the first donor — a patient who recovered from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) — coming forward to make the donation on Monday.

The Madras Medical College is part of the Indian Council of Medical Research’s multi-centre trial, and also obtained the approval for an institutional trial for severe COVID-19 patients.

“A patient who recovered from COVID-19 has donated plasma for the trial. With this, the approved clinical trial has commenced at MMC,” an official said.

Apart from the MMC, the ICMR has granted approval for Madurai Medical College, Tirunelveli Medical College and Christian Medical College, Vellore, for its multi-centre clinical trial.

Patients step up stir, demand to be sent home

Patients step up stir, demand to be sent home

Corporation may allow home quarantine for those who have tested negative

12/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

Patients in COVID-19 care centres of the Greater Chennai Corporation intensified their protests on Monday, demanding that the Corporation shift them to their home.

The COVID-19 positive patients and their relatives shared on social media information about the delay in discharging those who have tested negative after their stay in the care centres. Unrest was reported in Chennai Trade Centre at Nandambakkam on Monday. More than 60% of the COVID-19 positive patients in the Chennai Corporation care centres have subsequently tested negative and such persons have demanded that they be to permitted them return home.

Corporation Commissioner G. Prakash said the patients who participated in the agitation would be permitted to go home and remain on home quarantine. “The government has decided to permit COVID-19 positive patients who are asymptomatic to be on home quarantine. Patients who are agitating in the COVID-19 care centre in Nandambakkam are asymptomatic. Many patients have tested negative for COVID-19. All such patients housed in the COVID-19 care centres will be permitted to be on home quarantine,” said Mr. Prakash.

Risk assessment

The regional deputy commissioners in the three regions of the Corporation have been asked to take a decision after assessing the condition of the patients’ families and the risk associated with home quarantine.

As many as 357 persons who were housed in the COVID-19 care centre in Nandambakkam have been requesting the civic officials to permit them to leave the facility.

Corporation South Regional Deputy Commissioner Alby John Varghese said 150 persons who tested negative had been sent home. “We have sent all patients who have tested negative for COVID-19.

“Another 50 patients who have tested negative will be sent home today,” said Dr. Varghese.

The team led by Dr. Varghese visited the care centre at Nandambakkam on Monday. “Many patients here live in crowded areas. Home quarantine is not possible in such areas. They cannot ensure separate enclosures for patients at home. We explained to the patients the need for medical observation. We explained that it is a contagious disease and they can spread it to their family members, ” said Dr. Varghese.

Four patients from Theni and Udhagamandalam were yet to be sent home from the COVID-19 care centre in Nandambakkam, said Dr. Varghese.

“All other patients who have tested negative have been sent home,” said Dr. Varghese.