When many go maskless, some are doubling down on staying safe

When many go maskless, some are doubling down on staying safe

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

13.04.2021

Did you look twice at the man with two masks on at the neighbourhood market? And later found a few more like him? As the second Covid-19 wave lashes the country, many are going for the double-mask approach to keep the virus away, with experts saying it’s “advisable” and an “established way to stop transmission”.

“One can wear a surgical mask and a cloth mask or two cloth masks. However, with N95 masks, doubling is not needed,” says Dr Rommel Tickoo, director, internal medicine department at Delhi’s Max Saket. “A double mask is advisable when a person is going to crowded places where social distancing is not possible,” he says.

Many masks don’t fit perfectly on the face. Wearing double masks reduces the risk of droplets from an infected person escaping through the sides while breathing in and out, say experts. The double-masking recommendation is based on a study conducted by the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC conducted studies to assess two ways of improving the fit of medical procedure masks — fitting a cloth mask over a medical procedure mask, and knotting the ear loops of a medical procedure mask and then tucking in and flattening the extra material close to the face.

‘Double mask gives more fool-proof protection’

Each modification substantially improved source control and reduced wearer exposure, it found.

“Double masking and knotting are some of the established ways to stop transmission as it ensures a tight fit. While people may feel it impedes breathing, its regular use could ease the discomforts,” said Maharashtra Covid taskforce member Dr Shashank Joshi.

Joshi recommends using a medical three-ply mask covered by a cloth mask or viseversa for maximum protection. “Double masking can prove to be effective in crowded places, rooms where there is lack of proper ventilation or places where social distancing can be a challenge such as a local train compartment,” added Joshi added.

Wearing a double mask provides a more fool-proof protection, according to Rahul Jain, internal medicine consultant at Belle Vue Clinic in Kolkata. Often, the mask gets displaced or is not properly fitted around the nose and mouth. This may happen if the string gets loose. A second mask ensures that the cover remains firmly in place,” said Jain.

However, some experts feel double-masking cannot be standard strategy. “The theory of double mask has been discussed, propagated by some as a better filter to prevent the leaks. However, this cannot be recommended as a standard strategy. One good mask wellworn is good enough to offer protection,” Dr Ravindra Mehta, chief of pulmonary, critical care and interventional pulmonology, Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Bengaluru.

(With inputs from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Chennai)

Suggest Giving Priority, Leave, Med Aid To Those Who Took Vax

Offer perks for taking jab, experts tell govt

Suggest Giving Priority, Leave, Med Aid To Those Who Took Vax

Pushpa.Narayan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:13.04.2021

The new goal is administering at least 2 lakh doses of the vaccine daily, nearly doubling the number administered so far on the best days, health secretary J Radhakrishnan announced last week, but hesitancy about the vaccine remains a hurdle.

Aware that getting as many people as possible vaccinated will be critical to containing the pandemic and allowing a return to a more normal way of life, public health analysts, virologists and infectious diseases experts offer three ways to beat hesitancy.

Create awareness, improve accessibility

Right messages about vaccines should stare out of billboards and blare out through public address systems, says former director of public health Dr K Kolandaisamy. Since many people want to avoid hospitals and crowded places, vaccination camps should be held in schools, anganwadi centres, meeting halls or open grounds of residential complexes, parks and workplaces. The government should update its web pages on where the vaccine will be available every day. VHNs too will be able to effectively do door-to-door canvassing in parts of the state. If people avoid vaccines because they want to wait for one brand, they should be told that the efficacy levels of both the vaccines are good.

Offer privileges to those vaccinated

Those who have taken at least one dose of the vaccine, and others who have taken the second dose at the right interval, says infectious diseases expert Dr Subramanian Swaminathan, should get privileges in entry to places of worship, tourist spots, or while booking movie tickets. They should, however, follow pandemic protocols. It should be announced that vaccine certificates will be required for all international travel. Though people can be infected even after two doses of the vaccine, they will not have severe disease. While natural immunity comes with the infection, vaccines can trigger antibodies – which can fight the virus – without risk of morbidity or mortality.

No vaccine, no compensation for severe disease/death

While vaccination is voluntary, public health experts say the government must tell healthcare providers and frontline staff that there will be no paid medical leave, reimbursement for severe treatment at private hospitals in case of severe Covid symptoms if they skip taking the vaccine. They should also not be compensated with cash in case they die of the viral infection. There is adequate scientific evidence that the vaccines offer up to 80% protection against the infection and prevent severe disease. The most informed people cannot have hesitancy.

Tamil Nadu has adequate vax doses, says EPS

Tamil Nadu has adequate vax doses, says EPS

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:13.04.2021

Asserting that adequate doses of Covid vaccine are available in Tamil Nadu, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday called upon government staff to get vaccinated within two weeks. The management of industries, government offices, workplaces, markets and residential complexes should contact Greater Chennai Corporation/district administration to arrange for Covid vaccination that can be administered at their premises, the chief minister said.

During a review meeting with the heads of departments at the Secretariat, the chief minister said the public should get vaccinated at nearby hospitals.

Employers need to ensure staff get vaccinated: CM

Palaniswami said, “The management of industries, restaurants and markets should arrange for vaccination for their employees. If the management requests government hospitals, the government is ready to vaccinate the workers at their premises. We have adequate doses of vaccines.” He urged people to avoid crowding in public places, wear masks, maintain social distance and follow the government’s standard operating procedures.

In a slew of directions to department heads, Palaniswami said all eligible people should get vaccinated and the administrative machinery should reassure people about the necessity to take the vaccination. “The vaccination is done at primary health centres, government hospitals, mini clinics and private hospitals. The state administered 37.8 lakh vaccine doses until Sunday to health staff, frontline workers, election staff and people above 45 years,” an official release said, quoting the chief minister. The state has received 54.85 lakh doses of vaccine from the Centre until Sunday.

The chief minister said the administration should conduct 90,000 RT-PCR tests a day, besides increased and aggressive testing in affected areas, and the results should come out in 24 hours. Tracing of a minimum 25-30 contacts of infected persons should be expedited and they should undergo RT-PCR tests. “Fever camps should be set up across the state and those with symptoms of cold and fever should be diagnosed and treated,” the release said. The state government has set up 8.92 lakh fever camps so far and treated 14.47 lakh people with symptoms of fever. As many as 1,309 containment zones were identified as on April 10 and intensive monitoring measures were taken.

The areas where there are three or more affected people must be declared a micro-containment zone and preventive measures taken against the spread of infection. The infected persons should be either taken to Covid care centres or exclusive Covid hospitals as per protocol, the release said.

Don’t pick between helmet & mask: Cops

Don’t pick between helmet & mask: Cops

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:13.04.2021

Just a day after the state government put in place new restrictions to contain Covid-19, several road-users across Chennai were seen arguing with the traffic police about the need to wear a mask while wearing helmets.

From April 8 to 11, as per city police statistics, 2,351 cases were registered against people not wearing masks and a fine of ₹4.44 lakh collected. On Sunday alone, 892 cases were registered against violators who were fined ₹1.62 lakh. During the April 8-11 period, police registered 1,500 cases and collected a fine of ₹59,500 for failing to maintain social distancing norms, with 196 special teams headed by an inspector enforcing norms.

Ahead of an awareness campaign in T Nagar on Tuesday, commissioner Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal asked all inspectors to enforce the norms strictly. “Many people know about the importance of wearing face masks, but ignore it. We are conducting a series of campaigns, especially in residential areas and market places, roping in the traffic police, Amma patrol, law and order and other wings,” he said.

Across the state from April 8 to 11, police registered 1,30,531 cases and collected ₹2.52 crore in fines including registering 46,062 cases and collecting ₹89.61 in fines on Sunday alone. In the north zone, comprising 12 districts, 27,910 cases were registered and ₹48.53 lakh collected in fines, while in the central zone, 22,524 cases were registered and ₹44.11 lakh in fines collected. In the west zone, 21,739 cases were registered and ₹43.40 lakh in fines collected, while in the south zone, 43,019 cases were registered and ₹85.74 lakh in fines collected.

MASK UP OR PAY UP: Greater Chennai police collected fine of ₹1.62 lakh from people not wearing mask in public places

3-member panel to run Anna univ till new VC found

3-member panel to run Anna univ till new VC found

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:13.04.2021 

A three-member convener committee headed by higher education secretary Apoorva will run Anna University in the absence of the vice-chancellor.

IT secretary Hans Raj Verma and Ranjani Parthasarathy from College of Engineering, Guindy, will be the other members of the committee. After professor M K Surappa completed his three-year tenure as VC on Sunday, there was a lack of clarity on who will head the university until his replacement is found.

Apoorva convened a special syndicate meeting on Monday. The syndicate resolved to form a convener committee headed by Apoorva for exercising the powers and performing the duties of vice-chancellor till a new V-C is appointed.

Professors from the university said the outgoing vicechancellor was asked to vacate the university in two days. "The head of the convener committee has given the direction to the university authorities. It is not fair giving him the shortest time to vacate when the new VC is yet to be appointed. They should give him at least a few weeks' time to vacate in view of the raging pandemic in both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka," they said.

Meanwhile, a three-member vice-chancellor search committee headed by Jawaharlal Nehru University vicechancellor M Jagadish Kumar has been formed. "The search committee meeting is yet to take place. The committee will need at least five weeks' time to shortlist a panel of names for the vice-chancellor post," a source said.

Surprise for city residents, light rain in the morning

Surprise for city residents, light rain in the morning

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:13/04/2021

Residents in soime parts of the city woke up on Monday morning to surprise light spells of rain.

While IMD has not forecast rainfall over the city for the next few days, weather bloggers said wind convergence closer to coastal areas may continue to bring isolated light showers over a few areas in the morning. For southe TN, IMD said a cyclonic circulation could bring heavy rain and thunderstorms over the next four days.

For the next 48 hours, Chennai and its suburbs will have partly cloudy skies with maximum and minimum temperatures around 35 degrees C and 26 degrees C.

While the last few days had seen near normal day and night temperatures in the city, localities in west Chennai such as Koyambedu, Anna Nagar, Valasaravakkam, Virugambakkam and Porur recorded light spells on Monday. Both Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam stations, however, recorded zero rainfall.

While a persistent strong easterly is keeping a check on day temperatures in the day, meteorologists said an early morning convergence of opposing winds closer to coastal areas brought drizzles over a few localities.

The IMD has forecast light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning over a few places in Western Ghat districts along with south and central parts of the state till April 16. Heavy rainfall is also likely over Coimbatore, Theni and Nilgiris. This is due to a cyclonic circulation over south Tamil Nadu and neighbourhood.

“Chennai may receive spells in the morning for the next two weeks due to convergence close to the coast. But it is more like drizzles or very light rainfall that may not last more than a few minutes,” said blogger Pradeep John.

Localities in west Chennai such as Koyambedu, Anna Nagar, Valasaravakkam, Virugambakkam and Porur recorded light spells on Monday

After vibration, Air India pilots skip Kozhikode table-top runway, land in Kochi with 188 on board

After vibration, Air India pilots skip Kozhikode table-top runway, land in Kochi with 188 on board

Saurabh.Sinha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:13.04.2021

A “vibration” during takeoff at Riyadh led two pilots in the cockpit of an Air India Express flight to Kerala’s Kozhikode choose Kochi as a “safer” landing option over the destination airport’s tricky table-top runway, where a Boeing 737-800 of the same airline had overshot the strip and crashlanded last August killing killing 19 passengers and both the pilots.

Just before IX-1322 became airborne late on Saturday with 188 people, Captain Yazad Bachaa and first officer Nishad Arawandakar had experienced a “small jolt...a wobble” that indicated trouble with the landing gear or tyres.

Since all flight parameters were otherwise normal, they decided to continue flying, though with one crucial change — diverting the flight to Kochi to avoid landing on the table-top runway at Kozhikode with a possible snag. The flight landed safely in Kochi early on Sunday.

AI Express arranged another aircraft hours later to fly the passengers to Kozhikode. “We are proud of the way the pilots handled the situation,” airline sources said.

While touchdown was uneventful, tyre fragments were strewn across the runway. The rubber portion of the right tyre in the main landing gear had completely disintegrated. Once it was confirmed there was no fire, the 180 passengers, six-member cabin crew and the two pilots deplaned using a stepladder.

After reaching cruising altitude of 35,000 ft following take-off, the pilots had contacted Riyadh air traffic control and asked them to check if tyre pieces had been found on the runway. Officials confirmed shortly afterwards that there were some fragments, though they couldn’t say if they were from the AI Express Boeing 737-800.

Making best use of “crew resource management”, the pilot-in-command called two special passengers to the cockpit – the captain and co-pilot who had flown the same aircraft on its journey from India to Saudi Arabia. The four pilots brainstormed and worked out likely scenarios involving tyre trouble. It was then that Captain Bachaa decided to divert to Kochi because of its longer runway and clear weather.

RISK PRONE: In August 2020, an AI Express Boeing 737-800 overshot the Kozhikode runway and crashlanded killing 21 people