No weddings, darshan at Guruvayur from today

No weddings, darshan at Guruvayur from today

Increase in COVID-19 cases in Thrissur behind the decision

13/06/2020

After a break of 80 days, Sree Krishna Temple opened on June 5 when the lockdown restrictions were relaxed.PTI

The Guruvayur Devaswom Board has decided to stop darshan as well as weddings at Sree Krishna Temple from Saturday, Kerala Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran has said.

He told reporters here on Friday that the board decided to stop darshan because of the increase in COVID-19 cases in Thrissur district, and the neighbouring Chavakkad turning into a containment zone.

The board would intimate those who had booked for marriages on Sunday and Monday. It had informed the government of its decision, and the government had given its go-ahead. The government was against crowding in all public places, including temples, Mr. Surendran said.

The respective Devaswoms could take a call on permitting darshan, he said.

Mr. Surendran said two weddings, which had already been booked for Saturday, would be conducted. After a break of 80 days, the temple opened on June 5 when the lockdown restrictions were relaxed.

Airport sees increase in number of flights

Airport sees increase in number of flights

13/06/2020

For the first time since the resumption of domestic flights, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has increased the number of departure and arrival movements within the State.

On Friday, 58 flights were handled at the Chennai airport and for Saturday, the schedule shows there will be 58 flights — 29 arrivals and departures each.

When the Centre announced that domestic flights would resume on May 25, the Tamil Nadu government said only 25 flights would be allowed into the city, considering the huge spike in COVID-19 cases. Hence, for three weeks now, the number of departure and the arrival flights had not crossed 25 each.

Officials of AAI said they received approval from the State government to increase the number of flights.

“The addition of eight aircraft movements is an increase of flights to cities within the State, like Madurai and Thoothukudi. The number of flights from other cities, including Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata or Bangalore, has not gone up,” an official said.

42 postgraduates test positive in MMC

42 postgraduates test positive in MMC

All of them are residents of the hostel

13/06/2020

Forty-two doctors, who are residents of the Madras Medical College’s Postgraduate (PG) Men’s Hostel, tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on Friday.

Nearly 60 samples were lifted from the doctors. Of these, 42 returned positive for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The hostel houses 250 PG doctors. These doctors were posted on COVID-19 as well as other duties, including trauma and outpatient departments, at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH). Reliable sources at the hospital said that a number of women PGs and house surgeons had tested positive.

“Those who were posted on non-COVID-19 duties have also tested positive. PGs are posted in the trauma wards, including on 24-hour duty. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are provided but how can they wear it for 24 hours? We have been requesting duty on a shift basis for every six hours. After the government lifted the restrictions, there is an increase in accidents and assault cases. As a result, we have to attend to emergency patients at the earliest,” a doctor at the hospital said.

A majority of the medicos who tested positive were admitted to the ESI Hospital, Ayanavaram. “Many of those who tested positive are asymptomatic. The PG hostel should be closed for disinfection. It is important to actively screen all staff at RGGGH, not just those who are symptomatic. It is important for the safety of healthcare providers and workers, and for patients,” another doctor said on condition of

E-pass issuance restricted in city’s neighbouring districts

E-pass issuance restricted in city’s neighbouring districts

Employees of industries told to find lodging near workplace

13/06/2020

The Tiruvallur district administration has restricted issuance of e-pass to enter the district, even for work.

Many people from Chennai travel to Tiruvallur on a daily basis to work in industries. Till date, police and district administration were allowing those working in different industries if they their work identity cards were presented.

Strict enforcement

“Now we have stopped that and only those with e-passes will be allowed to enter. We are providing passes only to those living near the industries. Those living far away can get a pass and stay near their workplace. Travelling daily will not be encouraged,” Tiruvallur Collector Mageswari Ravikumar said. Meanwhile, the police have intensified checking of e-passes in the districts bordering Chennai. Vehicles from Chennai, without valid pass, are not being allowed to enter Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram or Tiruvallur district.

“The e-pass is mandatory to enter other districts. However, as many people from Chennai travel to Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur on a daily basis, it was relaxed a bit. However, we found that many are misusing it and roaming around unnecessarily,” a senior police officer said. There were 15 check points in the border of these districts including one at Thirumazhisai.

“Those without e-pass are being sent back. We will be intensifying the checking in the coming days,” said a senior police officer.

Total lockdown rumours

Tiruvallur SP P. Aravindan said there had been rumours about total lockdown to be announced by the Tamil Nadu government. Since this could lead to panic buying, the police warned people not to spread rumours.

“We will arrest those who spread rumours. The police is closely monitoring social media to identify those who spread fake messages,” he said.

CM: people who spread rumours will face action

CM: people who spread rumours will face action

13/06/2020

Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Friday said that false news was being spread about the government planning to intensify lockdown measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, and warned that stern action would be taken against persons spreading such rumours.

Talking to mediapersons after raising the shutters of the Mettur dam, Mr. Palaniswami said, “False news is being spread under my name on social media about the government planning stricter lockdown measures. The government has no such plans. Stern legal action wil be taken against those spreading such rumours. The government has not issued any such order.”

On charges of several private schools collecting fees despite government orders, he said stern action would be taken against such institutions if complaints are made.

‘State reluctant to allow flights from abroad’

‘State reluctant to allow flights from abroad’

13/06/2020

The Madras High Court on Friday asked the Centre why very few chartered flights were being operated to Chennai under the Vande Bharat Mission to repatriate Indians stranded abroad due to COVID-19.

Justices Vineet Kothari and R. Suresh Kumar wondered whether it was for want of sufficient number of passengers or for some other reason. The bench was hearing a petition filed by the DMK to bring back Tamils stranded abroad.

Senior counsel P. Wilson, representing the DMK, told the court that the party had been receiving distress calls and e-mails from thousands of Tamils stranded in the U.S., the U.K., the U.A.E. and many other places. The State government was reluctant to allow flights to land in Chennai, he said.

The judges directed the Centre to file a detailed status report in a week.

The court wanted to know whether the Centre had provided any other relief to Indians stranded abroad due to COVID-19.

The Division Bench directed the State government to submit a list, if any, of international flights already allowed to be landed in Chennai and other airports in the State and the number of requisitions received so far for such flights.

The government was ordered to spell out its stand, by June 19, on allowing international flights to land in Chennai and other airports in the State and whether it had apprehensions on letting passengers land here.

Universities sign pact to work on vaccine

Universities sign pact to work on vaccine

Siddha medicines to be studied as well

13/06/2020

The universities will work to promote excellence in basic and advanced research in healthcare.

The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University (TNMGRMU) and the Tamil Nadu University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (TANUVAS) are working together to identify a vaccine candidate against COVID-19, and are studying the anti-viral activity of select Siddha medicines such as kabasura kudineer.

According to a press release, both institutions have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to share expertise and facilities to jointly work in various areas of healthcare research.

They are also jointly conducting animal studies and cell line studies to assess the anti-viral activity of Siddha medicines such as kabasura kudineer and nochi kudineer.

The two universities will work towards promoting excellence in basic and advanced research in healthcare, particularly in epidemics and zoonotic diseases. They will also explore other areas to work together, such as in collaborative research projects funded by national and international agencies.

Registrars of the two universities — M.B. Aswath Narayanan of TNMGRMU and P. Tensingh Gnanaraj of TANUVAS — signed the MoU. Vice-chancellor of TNMGRMU Sudha Seshayyan and vice-chancellor of TANUVAS C. Balachandran were present.