T.N. public health system good, says Kerala Minister

T.N. public health system good, says Kerala Minister

‘Kerala prepared much earlier to combat COVID-19’

01/06/2020, STAFF REPORTER,CHENNAI

Kerala Health Minister K.K.Shailaja Teacher, on Sunday, acknowledged that Tamil Nadu’s public health system was “good”. As for Kerala, it had prepared much earlier to combat COVID-19.

“The situation in Kerala is different from other parts of the world — we have many financial problems but because of the decentralisation, people-centric planning we have high Human Development Index (HDI) and effective public health system. It was also because of pre-preparedness and collective activity of the government (we succeeded),” she said during a virtual interaction with Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan on the ‘New Normal’ in post-COVID-19 India.

“When we read WHO’s announcement that there is a potential virus in Wuhan on January 18, they didn’t identify the virus as SARS-COV – 2 or declare it as a pandemic. I called my secretary and discussed it with him. He said that we have to prepare for it. We anticipated that Malayali students studying in Wuhan would come back,” she said.

Mr. Haasan said that Kerala government could not have tackled the crisis well unless the government backed the Minister.

“You were not waiting for orders from anywhere. You had your own protocols. Unless there is total backing of the government, good job cannot be done,” Mr. Haasan said.

Ms. Shailaja said that she received similar backing from the government during the Nipah virus outbreak in 2018.

Speaking about how people need not think that contracting COVID-19 is a near certain death, Dr. Ramanan Laxminarayan, founder and director, Centre for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy in Washington, said: “Death due to Covid-19 is very rare. Since, we don’t have immunity, we are worrying. We have to take precaution – not just for us but to protect the elderly in our homes.”

Mr. Haasan said that television channels could consider broadcasting school education lessons to facilitate learning.

Psychiatrist Shalini stressed on the need for following safety protocols.

Madurai hairdresser comes in for high praise from PM

Madurai hairdresser comes in for high praise from PM

Mohan spent ₹8.5 lakh on feeding the poor during lockdown

01/06/2020, P.A. NARAYANI,MADURAI

A role model: Hairdresser C. Mohan spent money that he had saved up for his daughter’s studies. G.Moorthy G_Moorthy

It was a regular Sunday morning for C. Mohan at his salon in Melamadai, Madurai. But things changed after Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to his contribution in his monthly radio broadcast, Mann Ki Baat.

In the course of his speech, the Prime Minister praised Mr. Mohan for feeding the needy during the lockdown, spending ₹5 lakh that he had saved up for his daughter’s education.

“As news spread, people started thronging our house. When people expressed their gratitude, it was worth more than any amount of money,” Mr. Mohan said.

The sight of people starving and pleading for help during the lockdown deeply affected M. Nethra, 13, Mr. Mohan’s daughter. “She insisted that we give away the money we saved for her education. She told us that she would study hard and become an IAS officer to serve society,” he said.

Despite having no income during the lockdown, the family donated rice, vegetables and groceries to nearly 1,500 families. Apart from the savings for his daughter’s education, Mr. Mohan pledged his wife’s jewellery to continue feeding the poor. “So far, we have donated around ₹8.5 lakh to the needy,” he said.

Mr. Mohan said that he had a habit of saving a portion of his daily earnings. “A few years ago, I was cheated by some acquaintances who took away ₹30 lakh, which was my hard-earned savings. At the time, I was left with no money and struggled to feed my family. When people asked for help during the lockdown, I could completely understand them because I too have experienced hunger,” he said.

Mr. Mohan started saving for his daughter’s education in 2013. “Our experiences have taught us that money is just a part of life and is temporary in nature. Since we had some money saved, we gave it away to the poor,” he said.

With his salon operational for over two weeks now, the footfall is gradually improving, he said. “Our aim is to help more people in other areas,” he added.

For inter-zonal train journeys, e-passes now mandatory

For inter-zonal train journeys, e-passes now mandatory

01/06/2020, STAFF REPORTER,CHENNAI

With Tamil Nadu classifying the State into eight zones, the Southern Railway on Sunday said that train passengers travelling from one zone to another, upon arrival, would require an e-pass.

A release from the Southern Railway said that rail passengers should regsiter their details online and obtain a T.N. e-pass: “For the movement of rail passengers from one zone to another (other than Chennai), it is mandatory that they register their details online and obtain a T.N. e-pass by applying on the website https://TNepass.tnega.org,” the release said.

It added: “For intra or inter-district movement of rail passengers within the zone classified by the government of Tamil Nadu, the T.N. e-pass is not required.”

The release added that those who wish to travel from Chennai (zone VIII) to other zones should mandatorily register their details online and obtain an e-pass. As for travelling from other States to Tamil Nadu, registration and e-pass is compulsory.

It was also notified that trains like the Coimbatore-Mayiladuturai-Coimbatore (Janshatabdi Special) and Madurai-Villupura-Madurai intercity superfast will be run from June 1.

All persons travelling from Chennai to be tested

All persons travelling from Chennai to be tested

Those arriving in T.N. from hotspot States will also be screened

01/06/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

All passengers from Chennai who test positive will be sent to hospitals for treatment, as per protocol.

With Tamil Nadu easing lockdown relaxations from Monday, COVID-19 testing will become mandatory for anyone travelling from Chennai to other districts, irrespective of symptoms, according to the Health Department guidelines issued on Sunday.

The additional guidelines were issued to facilitate strict adherence to testing and quarantine strategies for COVID-19 management.

With the State being classified into eight zones for the purpose of travel, those moving from one zone to another will have to mandatorily register their details online at https://tnepass.tnega.org and obtain an e-pass. Such persons will be tested only if they show symptoms.

Asked how a person would be identified for testing, Health Secretary Beela Rajesh said that since the districts were divided into zones, the entire process would be digitally managed.

“Since every traveller needs a T.N. e-pass, they have to apply for it, and this will automatically go to the dashboard of the District Collector. The Collector’s office will then pick them up and take them to the nearest testing centre,” she said.

All passengers from Chennai who test positive will be sent to hospitals for treatment, as per protocol. “Those who test negative must undergo home quarantine for seven days. If they do not have facilities for quarantine at home, they will have to undergo paid institutional quarantine, as mandated by the government,” the Department said. The individuals concerned must monitor their health for seven days after such quarantine.

Those travelling for business purposes and returning to their respective places within 48 hours are exempted from having to undergo quarantine, provided they furnish valid return documents.

Inter-State travel

As is the case with air passengers, it is mandatory for all train passengers from other States coming into Tamil Nadu to register their details online and obtain an e-pass.

All passengers arriving from hotspot States/regions will be tested and sent to hospitals for treatment if found to be COVID-19 positive. Those who test negative must undergo either institutional quarantine or home quarantine for 14 days.

People arriving from other States will be tested if they are symptomatic. Those who test positive will be hospitalised and those testing negative will have to undergo institutional quarantine or home quarantine for 14 days.

More relaxations as Tamil Nadu extends lockdown till June-end

More relaxations as Tamil Nadu extends lockdown till June-end

Limited bus services from today; dine-in from June 8

01/06/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Sunday extended the COVID-19 lockdown till June 30, but announced significant relaxations from June 1 while splitting the State into eight zones for the purpose of resumption of public transport. Bus services (see page 2) will be resumed in a limited way from Monday except in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu.

Places of worship, the hill stations in the Nilgiris, Kodaikanal and Yercaud, malls, cinemas, amusement parks, beaches, auditoriums, resorts, lodges, zoos, museums and the like would remain closed for the public and tourists. No large congregations would be permitted and prohibitory orders would remain in force till the month-end. Educational institutions would not be reopened and Metro and EMU services would remain suspended.

No relaxations have been offered to COVID-19 containment zones.

While rental vehicles, taxis and autorickshaws would be allowed to ply with a limit of three and two passengers, respectively, from June 1, restaurants and tea shops would be permitted to offer dine-in services with 50% seating capacity from June 8, but without the use of air-conditioners.

Across Tamil Nadu, groceries and provision stores would be able to operate between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. Showrooms, including textile and jewellery outlets, can function with 50% staff, and allow only five customers in at a time.

Sports complexes and stadia can be opened, but without spectators. Besides, the State has withdrawn its decision to “temporarily” increase bus fares by 50%.

For Chennai

In a statement, Mr. Palaniswami said that in the Greater Chennai Police limits, all private companies would be allowed to function with 50% staff; IT and ITeS firms can operate with company-provided transport at 20% strength, subject to a maximum of 40 persons. Barber shops, salons, spas and beauty parlours can operate without air-conditioning and in line with the standard operating procedures.

For the rest of T.N.

In non-containment areas outside Chennai, industries, IT and ITeS firms are allowed to operate with 100% staff. “However, work-from-home option is to be encouraged for 20% staff,” Mr. Palaniswami said.

All private establishments have been allowed to operate with 100% staff with the work-from-home option “encouraged to the extent possible”. “Tasmac (liquor outlets) and other shops can operate between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.,” the Chief Minister said. Besides, e-commerce firms will be permitted to deliver even non-essential commodities.

Most large places of worship across country to remain shut

Most large places of worship across country to remain shut

Haridwar, Char Dham To Open After A Week, But Entry Only For Locals

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

01.06.2020

A day after the Union home ministry’s “Unlock 1” plan provided the green signal for places of worship to reopen on June 8, Uttarakhand was the only state to officially spell out on Sunday that all major religious destinations like Haridwar and Char Dham would open their doors after a week but restrict entry to the local population for a start.

“We will chalk out how many people can be allowed inside each temple every day and other security measures later in the week,” minister and Haridwar MLA Madan Kaushik said.

In Bengal, churches and gurdwaras have been allowed to reopen from Monday with not more than 10 people inside at a time.

A directive on temples and mosques will be issued later, officials said.

Most large places of worship across the country look likely to remain shut for longer – either voluntarily or because of state-specific measures overriding the central unlock plan –even as some have tentatively announced they will reopen on June 8 without waiting for the respective governments to specify the way forward.

In Maharashtra, the Shirdi and Siddhivinayak temples and Mumbai’s Haji Ali Dargah waited all day for word on whether they would be allowed to reopen before the state government came out with a “Mission Begin Again” strategy that does not include places of worship for now.

Assam’s ancient Kamakhya temple, which hosts the crowd-puller Ambubachi Mela in June-end, decided on Saturday itself to remain closed till July, irrespective of the state government’s call on the Centre’s guidelines. Puri’s Jagannath temple, shut since March 20, won’t reopen before July either, which effectively means the annual Rath Yatra that draws lakhs of devotees will be an unusually quiet affair this year.

“Our temple managing committee has decided that the shrine will be shut to devotees till July 4. The state government will soon take a final decision whether or not to host the nine-day Rath Yatra from June 23. The temple committee has proposed to the state government to hold the Rath Yatra without participation of devotees in view of the pandemic,” temple administrator (development) Ajay Kumar Jena told TOI.

Smaller temples, churches and mosques might get permission to reopen next week, sources said.

In AP, the state government’s decision to reopen or keep the Tirumala and Tirupati temples closed for a few more weeks won’t be known until next Thursday, said a senior official in Hyderabad.

Gujarat will decide on reopening major places of worship such as the Somnath and Akshardham shrines only after receiving a detailed SOP from the Centre, deputy CM Nitin Patel said.

Full report on www.toi.in

HANDS OF THE FAITHFUL: A woman praying outside Dargah Hazratbal, which has been sealed as part of Covid-19 lockdown measures, in Srinagar

To help a girl take exam, Kerala plies a 70-seater boat just for her

To help a girl take exam, Kerala plies a 70-seater boat just for her

Sajimon.PS@timesgroup.com

Alappuzha:1.6.2020

On Friday and Saturday, a 70-seat Kerala state water transport department (SWTD) boat with just one passenger made the round trip from water-logged MN Block in Alappuzha district to Kanjiram in Kottayam district so that Sandra Babu could write her Plus One exams.

Passenger boats in the scenic Kuttanad area, which is situated below sea-level and is an official Ramsar Site (under the international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilisation of wetlands), were suspended ever since the lockdown began, and when fresh dates for the deferred HSC exams were announced, Sandra, whose parents are daily wage workers, was at first sure she would miss them.

“I thought I would miss the examinations as I didn’t have any means to reach my school. But then, I contacted the SWTD office and informed them of my plight. They understood my situation and promised to send a boat. I am really proud of SWTD and I don’t know how to share my happiness,” Sandra gushed.

Despite the lone passenger, the boat had its full complement of crew – the driver, a srank (navigator), a boat master and two lascars (for assisting the master in mooring). On both days, the boat picked up 17-year-old Sandra from a jetty close to her home at sharp 11.30am and plied all the way to Kanjiram, dropping her at the jetty in front of SNDP Higher Secondary School at around 12 noon. The boat waited for her till she finished her exam and then dropped her back at around 4pm.

Officials at SWTD were perhaps unaware of a famous Japanese precedent, when a remote station was kept open for three years to pick up just one passenger— a schoolgirl— so that she could go to school get to class, but their heart-warming gesture towards Sandra has earned them widespread goodwill.

SAILING AHEAD: Sandra Sabu in the SWTD boat