Not New Delhi or Mumbai, the worst-hit city is Maha’s Nashik

Not New Delhi or Mumbai, the worst-hit city is Maha’s Nashik

Atul Thakur & Rema Nagarajan

17.04.2021 

The four cities with the highest number of fresh cases per million population over the past month are all in Maharashtra. Nashik at the top is followed by Nagpur, Pune and Mumbai, in that order.

Sandwiched between these cities and Delhi (at No. 9) are Lucknow, Bengaluru, Bhopal and Indore, with Patna rounding off the top 10. In absolute numbers, Mumbai has added 3.7 between March 16 and April 15, much higher than any other city, while Delhi seems like it is the next worst hit. Absolute numbers, however, can give a misleading picture as cities with much bigger populations would tend to have more cases. Calculating the number of cases per million makes it possible to compare cities with vastly different population sizes.

Almost all cities breached their earlier highest daily cases

Thus, Mumbai and Delhi with populations of more than 20 million each have had single-day highs over the past month of more than 19,400 and 14,300, respectively.

But again, when we look at these numbers in proportion to their population, Lucknow’s high of just under 4,500 on April 15 is more alarming.

TOI looked at the number of Covid infections over the last one month in the country’s 30 most populous urban agglomerations – contiguous urban areas like Greater Mumbai or Greater Kolkata – according to the UN’s World Urbanisation Prospects data.

For two of these, Hyderabad and Vijaywada, data wasn’t available. Almost all the cities have breached their previous highest daily cases during the course of this month and are continuing to witness a rise.

This is a serious worry for the health infrastructure in these cities, as there is no telling how far the cases would increase before they reach the peak. Mercifully, Mumbai, Pune, and Nashik are now seeing decreasing number of cases over the last few days indicating that these cities could be over their peak.

Students in dark as Anna University withholds exam results

Students in dark as Anna University withholds exam results

The exam results for second, third and final year engineering students were announced earlier this week.

Published: 16th April 2021 05:47 AM 

By Sushmitha Ramakrishnan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Anna University has withheld the results of reportedly more than half the students, particularly those from colleges in Tier-II areas, who took up the November/December 2020 semester examinations, for reasons including “double-checking” that the candidates have not indulged in “malpractice”. This has led to confusion and complaints of being seen in bad light among the students.

The exam results for second, third and final year engineering students were announced earlier this week.

“If the students have not indulged in any malpractice, and yet their results are withheld, it will be released in the upcoming week,” said a senior official from the university. The official added that results of students have been withheld due to various reasons, including non-payment of exam fees, indulgence in malpractice, suspicion of indulging in malpractice and incompletely processed results.

Many students are confused over why their results have been withheld. A majority of students in engineering colleges, especially those in Tier-II cities, are yet to receive their results. “The results of more than 70 per cent of my classmates have been withheld. They have also failed many students whose results have been published. We are very anxious,” said a final year engineering student from Villupuram.

Another student from Cuddalore, pointing to similar circumstances in his college, said, “Students are very anxious about the results. Students who did not copy (in exams) have also not received their results. However, we are seen in bad light because our results are withheld.” The November/December 2020 semester examinations, which were delayed due to Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, were held online in February.

The exams were proctored not only by invigilators but also by Artificial Intelligence. Around four lakh students had appeared for the online examinations this year. Those who wish to check their results can visit aucoe.annauniv.edu.

Second wave of coronavirus can last up to 100 days: Expert's advisory

Second wave of coronavirus can last up to 100 days: Expert's advisory

Aimed at creating awareness among police personnel, the advisory by Dr. Neeraj Kaushik said the new mutated virus has potential to skip immunity and even vaccine.

Published: 16th April 2021 11:07 PM |

Patients are seen inside a Covid-19 care centre and isolation ward facility near a hospital in New Delhi, April 13, 2021. (Photo | Parveen Negi)By PTI

NEW DELHI: The second wave of coronavirus can last up to 100 days and such waves will keep coming till 70 per cent of the population is vaccinated and herd immunity is achieved, according to an advisory prepared by an expert for Southeast Delhi Police.

Aimed at creating awareness among police personnel, the advisory by Dr. Neeraj Kaushik said the new mutated virus has potential to skip immunity and even vaccine.

"This is the reason for re-infection and cases among vaccinated people." This mutated virus is so infectious that if one member is affected, the whole family gets infected.

It is preying on children too, Dr Kaushik said in the document. He said that routine RT-PCR tests may not detect the mutated virus. However, loss of smell is a very strong indicator that a person is corona positive.

"The second wave of coronavirus can last up to 100 days. Such waves will keep coming until we attain 70 percent vaccination and herd community. So, do not lower your guard, especially mask," the advisory read.

It said surface transmission of virus is no more a threat now as per the recent trends. Hence, not much emphasis on surface disinfection is needed.

The doctor told police personnel that the chance of getting infected becomes very high "when you come in contact with the positive person for more than 15 minutes".

People with comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes, chronic kidney disease etc. must take extra precaution, he said. Dr Kaushik advised police personnel to avoid over exercise and junk food.

"Go for nutritious foods including juice, coconut water. Dalia in meals," he said. He also suggested the personnel change their "careless mindset and attitude and learn to wear masks professionally".

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) RP Meena said Kaushik has been working with the district police since the pandemic began.

He has conducted several various campaigns and prescribed medicines for our staff, Meena said, adding suggestions by him will help us understand and deal with the second wave.

Breaking News: NEET PG 2021 Postponed

Breaking News: NEET PG 2021 Postponed: New Delhi: In view of the rising COVID-19 cases, the prestigious PG medical entrance exam, NEET PG 2021 has been postponed by the Government of India. The exam was earlier scheduled to be held on...

Failing to register with Karnataka Medical Council, 3500 MBBS students deprived of practice

Failing to register with Karnataka Medical Council, 3500 MBBS students deprived of practice: Bengaluru: Deprived of their rights to practice as doctors in absence of registration from the Karnataka Medical Council (KMC), around 3500 MBBS students are in the lurch as the medical colleges...

NEET PG Exam 2021 postponed due to Covid-19

NEET PG Exam 2021 postponed due to Covid-19

TOI-Online | Apr 15, 2021, 07.13 PM IST

NEW DELHI: Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Thursday announced that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Postgraduate exam has been postponed amid surge in Covid-19 cases in the country.

The exam was scheduled to be held on April 18. However, a new date will be decided now. This decision has been taken keeping wellbeing of our young medical students in mind, he said.

"In light of the surge in Covid-19 cases, GoI has decided to postpone NEET PG 2021 exam which was earlier scheduled to be held on Apr 18. Next date to be decided later. Decision has been taken keeping wellbeing of our young medical students in mind," Harsh Vardhan tweeted on Thursday.

In light of the surge in #COVID19 cases,GoI has decided to postpone #NEETPG2021 exam which was earlier scheduled to… https://t.co/sHJk18HUde— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) 1618492985000

The National Board of Examinations had issued the admit cards for NEET PG 2021 on Tuesday on its official portal.

Issuing a notice on Thursday, Amit Biswas, undersecretary to the Government of India, said, “Looking at the present situation of the pandemic and taking into account the safety and well being of the students, it is decided that the NEET-PG 2021 exam scheduled to be held on 18th April 2021 be postponed.”

The notice further reads “The next date of examination would be announced after reviewing the situation later. A notice will be issued well in advance before the conduct of examination.”

Stay on action against Anna varsity V-C Surappa extended

Stay on action against Anna varsity V-C Surappa extended

HC extends interim order restraining govt action against the Anna University ex-VC

Published: 17th April 2021 06:04 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Friday extended, until further orders, an interim order restraining the Tamil Nadu government from taking any decision on an inquiry report against former vice chancellor of Anna University MK Surappa.

Justice M Govindaraj passed the orders on the plea moved by Surappa that the State government had passed a notification dated November 11,2020 constituting a commission of inquiry headed by a retired judge of the High Court, Justice P Kalaiyarasan, to probe the allegations of bribery and corruption during his tenure. This was so as the ruling dispensation was not happy with the fact that he was not toeing the line of the political masters, Surappa pleaded.

According to him, “The notification is an abuse of process of law as the very complainants do not exist, and the commission of inquiry was not appointed to inquire into the complaints received but to find out if any complaint can be made against the petitioner to harass the petitioner.”

“Certain actions I took as a vice-chancellor and as an academician did not find favour with the Higher education secretary as these actions hurt the political agenda of the ruling dispensation,” he added. Surappa’s three-year term as Vice Chancellor came to an end a few days ago.

The State government during the hearing on Friday sought time to file an additional counter on the plea. The judge noting the earlier interim orders of a single judge extended the plea until further orders and adjourned it to June.