Why are you hiding Covid data from citizens, HC questions govt

Why are you hiding Covid data from citizens, HC questions govt

Seeks New Report On T’s Efforts, Tests

SagarKumar.Mutha@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:09.06.2020

Pulling up health officials for hiding vital information from citizens with regard to Covid-19 spread and related issues, the Telangana high court on Monday directed the government to pack its media bulletins with more info on patients, including details like age, gender etc. The court also rejected the public health director’s report and sought a fresh report with details of tests, facilities and the state’s efforts.

A bench of Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and Justice B Vijaysen Reddy gave this interim direction while hearing a PIL filed by Amrita Aryendra, urging the court to direct the state to give more details to the public on the current Covid-19 situation in the state. After a barrage of questions, public health and family welfare director Dr G Srinivas Rao admitted that the health bulletin format was changed to make it simple. “We will issue a new format will all details from now onwards,” he assured the court.

Qazi Salar Masood Aatif, the counsel for the petitioner, requested the court to direct the stated to include tests conducted on the asymptomatic too in the bulletin. The bench agreed and said the information was very important because it defines the path of the pandemic and alerts people to be cautious. It cannot be hidden from public view, the judges said. The bench turned critical towards the state and its health director for suppressing vital information.

Reading out from a media bulletin issued by the director on June 2, the judges said as per the bulletin there were only seven Covid-19 positive cases in Rangareddy district. “But, your report (of June 2) furnished to us says that Pahadisharif area has 32 cases and Aziznagar 5 on the same day and these two areas fall under Rangareddy district. Since your bulletin says that there are only seven cases in Rangareddy district, people in that district and even from Pahadisharif would feel that coronavirus has weakened and would start ignoring the safety norms. This may lead to a spurt in the number of cases,” the bench said, driving home the importance of taking people into confidence at every stage. “By hiding this information from public view, we are only becoming accomplices in the spread,” they warned.

“The details of the number of patients area wise, containment zones, test results etc., need to be disseminated to the people. All shops, establishements, malls have been opened from today. Except theatres, all are open. This is the time the state should ask people to be cautious. There should be an unlocking strategy too. Otherwise, we may have to revert to the lockdown stage again,” the bench said. The judges also verified the bed strength in hospitals, ventilators, etc.

Dr Srinivas Rao assured the court that the state has indeed geared up its infrastructure in these areas and there was no need to worry. The state’s health minister has been regularly reviewing and he was also visiting Gandhi Hospital regularly. “We asked him to restrain his visits,” he said.

To a query on when was the last time the minister visited Gandhi Hospital, the Covid nodal hospital, Dr Rao said it was three weeks ago. The bench rejected his report and directed him to furnish a fresh report with details of tests, facilities and results of the state’s efforts.

TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT

Will Aarogyasri cover Covid, HC asks T

Hyderabad:

The high court has asked Telangana government if it would bring the coronavirus cases under the ambit of Aarogyasri health insurance scheme. The court also set June 16 deadline for the government to inform it about the feasibility of providing Covid-19 treatment under Aarogyasri.

A bench of Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and Justice B Vijaysen Reddy was hearing a PIL filed by advocate P Thirumala Rao, who urged HC to ensure that both Covid tests and treatment are made available to people for free. He explained that the Centre had brought Covid-19 under Ayushman Bharat in its latest circular. Advocate general BS Prasad informed the bench that government is yet to bring Covid-19 under Aarogyasri’s ambit. TNN

Antibody test likely for frontline workers

Antibody test likely for frontline workers

Sribala.Vadlapatla@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:09.06.2020

In view of increasing spread of Covid- 19, the state government may undertake antibody testing for all frontline workers including medical staff, police, municipal and mediapersons. The government may undertake tests for people with cancer, diabetes, hypertension as also aged persons. Recently, the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) conducted random tests in Hyderabad, Kamareddy, Janagoan and Nalgonda districts. The results will be declared in a few days. These tests are meant to know if there is community spread among the population.

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has written to all state governments to conduct sero surveillance. ICMR recommended IGG antibody tests for people. In this method, serum will be conducted to tests to see if antibodies are produced to combat the virus. The presence of anti-bodies indicate infection in the body. The IGG method reveals the presence of virus two weeks back. .

Meanwhile, Centre conducted review meeting with officials of districts including those from Telangana on Monday to discuss measures to be taken to curb the spread of coronavirus.

PRECAUTIONARY TEST

Many recovered patients refuse to donate plasma

Many recovered patients refuse to donate plasma

Amrita.Didyala@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:09.06.2020

Even as health authorities and a few plasma donors in the state are trying to convince patients who have recovered from Covid-19 to donate plasma, they frequently find potential donors unresponsive. At least 15 potential donors who previously showed interest have blocked the phone numbers of counsellors who tried to reach them.

The first donor in the state who together with two Indian origin US citizens started a Facebook page to find and connect potential donors, admits taking ‘no’ for an answer 90 percent of the time. “Right from getting excuses like I feel weak, I am scared and my parents do not agree, I have even heard excuses like I never got corona,” said Akhil Enamsetty, a lawyer by profession and the first donor in the state. While at the isolation ward in the hospital, he had convinced fellow patients to donate. Akhil along with Rajnipriya Pabbathi and Shankarnarayan started the initiative after the duo contacted him over Facebook. So far, the group has been able to connect 30 donors across the country.

Akhil also expressed interest in donating for a second time, hoping to motivate people. “Donating plasma is a very simple process and does not affect one’s health at all. Plasma is replaced within a week by the body. There is absolutely no risk, otherwise why would I be willing to donate for the second time,” he said.

Meanwhile, the first patient to have received plasma therapy and has completely recovered said that the therapy is a life saver. “I was on my deathbbed and constantly thinking of my family. I was unable to walk even three steps and was constantly gasping. It took just two days to show improvement and within seven days, I had recovered almost completely,” said Vamsi Krishna.

WORD NOT KEPT

No rush at city’s hotels as cautious diners stay away

No rush at city’s hotels as cautious diners stay away

Aditi.Mallick@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:09.06.2020

Restaurants and eateries wore a deserted look on Monday as they reopened after more than two months. There was no rush at the eateries as most customers preferred to ‘take away’ than dine-in.

Jagan G went to a restaurant in Panjagutta after driving from Erragadda to meet his friend. He was stopped at the entrance by the watchman, who screened his temperature. “This is the new normal. I have never seen hotels so empty,” he said.

Hotel owners suspect the footfall may remain low as people are still scared of dinning out because of the increase in Covid-19 cases. “We have reopened our three centres - Santhanagar, Kukatpally and Kondapur centre. The footfall was extremely low, less than 100 customers in all centres. People are scared to eat out and most prefer to take food to their homes,” said Mohammed Abdul Majid, owner of Pista House.

Several hotels served food to their customers on disposable crockeries. “There will be no change in hospitality but keeping in view the safety of the customers, we are using disposable plates, spoons and glasses to serve food. Customers will be allowed inside only if they are wearing a mask. The customers have to sanitize their hands at the entrance. We are taking all precautions,” said manager of Dwaraka restaurant in Lakdikapul area. All the staff members in the hotel have been asked to wear gloves, mask and head covers while serving customers.

Only a few people dined in at restaurants in the city on Monday

Some eateries open, but it’s an extended lockdown for many

Some eateries open, but it’s an extended lockdown for many

Sudipta.Sengupta@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:09.06.2020

It could be a while before you can enjoy a meal at your favourite restaurant in town. While it’s all clear from the government, many eateries may keep their shutters down for another few months — some as late as Dasara. Limited seating, night-time restrictions, apprehensive patrons coupled with extremely high lease rates has made it impossible for many to resume operations.

On an average, the lease rate in the Banjara Hills-Jubilee Hills-Hi-Tec City belt — city’s hub for restaurants and clubs — ranges between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 7 lakh a month. For smaller outlets, either in a commercial block or mall, it is anyw here upwards of Rs 2 lakh. To add to that are running costs, salaries of staff and now the extra expenditure on sanitisation.

“We haven’t set an opening date yet, but in all probability it’ll be around Dasara in October,” said Rashi Agarwal, managing director, master franchise owner of Pita Pit Restaurants, which has two outlets — in Sarath City Mall and Jubilee Hills Road No 36.

“With all the overheads and limited footfall, it doesn’t make any economic sense,” she said. Agarwal is now trying to negotiate a revenue sharing model — in the 75:25 ratio — with the property owner to sustain the business.

A restaurant with empty chairs marked out in city on Monday

Up to 40% restaurants likely to shut down in Hyd

So are several others in the industry who are worried that they might have to otherwise shut shop. Industry insiders that TOI spoke to said that at least 40% of the city’s restaurants are likely to close down for good due to lockdown losses.

“It’s a tough time for the hospitality sector. Though we are not planning to shut, we are also not sure when we will open. With Covid-19 cases increasing everyday, it’s going to be very long before business returns to usual for us,” said Ketan Agarwal, co-founder of Chubby Cho in Jubilee Hills that also runs Fat Pigeon (the bar). He was willing to wait at least another month before taking a call on pulling his shutters up.

Mohammed Shaji Chand too is willing to wait — weeks or even months — till he is allowed late-night operations. That’s because regulars at his popular 6,000 square feet eatery in Gachibowli, Arabian Corner, prefer to step in only post 10pm.

“We don’t serve alcohol, but as my place is partly open air, people like coming here only in the evening. My lunch window is only for two hours... that’s not enough to make profits. Opening now means suffering further losses,” the owner said.

Despite outlets opening after a 77-day hiatus, not much footfall was seen at most shops across the city.

SSC exams cancelled, all students to be promoted

SSC exams cancelled, all students to be promoted

Can’t Hold Exams As Corona Cases Rising, Says CM

Koride.Mahesh@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:09.06.2020

The Telangana government has decided to promote over five lakh Class 10 students without conducting the school-leaving Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. This was decided at a high-level meeting convened by chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao with the education minister and other officials at Pragati Bhavan on Monday.

“Based on students’ performance in internal assessment exams they would be promoted to higher classes as it would not be possible to conduct exams in the present situation of rising Covid-19 cases,” the CM announced.

Decision on degree and post-graduate examinations would be taken later after assessing the situation.

Earlier on Friday, the Telangana high court had said that SSC exams cannot be held in Greater Hyderabad area as there were many hotspots in Hyderabad, Secunderabad, and Rangareddy districts while allowing it in rest of the state by taking preventive measures. After the court instructed the state to decide by Saturday afternoon, the government initially deferred the exam for the second time in three months and, on Monday, finally cancelled it.

Of 11 papers (six subjects), the government had conducted three papers for 5.34 lakh students across the state in March this year. After Covid-19 cases started rising in the state, the government had to defer it for the first time after the high court intervened.

The SSC examinations were later supposed to begin on June 8, but the government had to defer them after the high court directed the state not to conduct them in GHMC limits due spurt in Covid-19 cases.

According to the chief minister’s office (CMO), the government examined what other states have done on holding SSC exams. Taking views from education department officials and other states’ decisions on exams, the chief minister decided to promote all the students.

Anna University removes 15-mark questions

ONE-TIME MEASURE

Anna University removes 15-mark questions

Tweaks Pattern For Semester Exams As Syllabus Was Not Completed

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:08.06.2020

Anna University tweaked question paper pattern for upcoming semester exams so that students can answer for 100 marks by studying 80% of syllabus since engineering colleges could not teach one unit due to loss of working days following Covid-19 lockdown. The Part C section which has 15-mark questions has been dropped from the question paper to give more choices to students.

As per the new pattern, the question paper will have 10 three-mark questions in Part- A section and Part - B will have five questions each carrying 19 marks. Students will have a choice of answering any 8 questions from Part-A and 4 questions from Part- B totalling 100 marks.

“This implies that the students are expected to answer 80% of the question paper pertaining to any four units of the syllabus covered and attempt questions for 100 marks,” a circular from controller of examinations to the principals of engineering colleges said.

However, all the current students reappearing for the arrear examinations of current and other regulations shall have all five units for end semester examintions and no change in existing question paper pattern.

In the wake of Covid-19 pandemic, the academic council has approved extraordinary decisions to conduct classes, viva-voce, end semester examinations to mitigate the academic loss caused by lockdown. The university has decided to leave out one of the five units for all engineering students due to the loss of working days.

However, the university clarified it is one-time measure and not to be taken as precedence in the circular.

“We wanted the colleges to know the change in question paper pattern for upcoming exams. It would help the examiners to set up question papers in autonomous colleges,” said M K Surappa, vice-chancellor of Anna University.

The university also asked the colleges to prepare a ‘Crash Course’ to deliver the remaining syllabus when the colleges reopen. “Students may have issues of connectivity and gadgets in attending online classes. So, they need to make up whatever is lost due to the lockdown,” Surappa added.

The university also said in the circular that the academic calendar is tweaked by compressing the number of lost working days.

We wanted the colleges to know the change in question paper pattern for upcoming exams. It would help the examiners to set up question papers in autonomous colleges

M K Surappa | ANNA UNIV