Demand to postpone exams gets louder

Demand to postpone exams gets louder

SruthySusan.Ullas@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:17.04.2021 

With chief minister BS Yediyurappa testing positive, college students took to social media with even more vigour seeking postponement of exams.

“When our state CM is not safe, how can a common student be safe. Plz think about us,” tweeted Varun, who sought postponement of Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) exams. Nikhil R Nair, another student, posted: “Hope you recover soon sir. Please at least now understand how serious the matter is and postpone the exams sir. We are also human and can get the infection.”

Neha said: “Listen u were vaccinated still you got Corona now think about students who are having exams and we are not vaccinated.”

While Bangalore University postponed UG, PG and engineering exams, VTU, the umbrella body for engineering courses, has insisted that exams will go ahead as scheduled — from April 19. Bengaluru City University too postponed exams scheduled for April 17.

Karisidappa, VC, VTU, said: “Students were told about exams a month ago. All SOPs will be strictly adhered to and all arrangements have been made. The exams will be held on schedule.”

Meanwhile, some teachers of Kendriya Vidyalayas are seeking a complete shift to online mode. However, KV officials said they are merely following state government orders and are giving students the option of online and on-campus classes.

PRESSURE ON SMALL FRY: Police stepped up vigilance in Bengaluru, fining motorists for not wearing masks on Friday

Seniors rushing for 2nd dose, don’t want to wait six weeks

Seniors rushing for 2nd dose, don’t want to wait six weeks

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:17.04.2021 

In a bid to beat infection with cases surging, many seniors are rushing to take the second dose of the vaccine after just four weeks of the first dose, although the central government, on March 22, had advised all states to increase the interval between doses to 6-8 weeks.

A total 29,03,117 senior citizens in Karnataka have received the first dose since March 1. Of them, 1,22,983 or 4.2% have already taken the second dose. In the 45-60 years category, nearly 47,000 have taken the second dose.

Hospitals say they are seeing a trend of senior citizens wanting to take the second dose at the earliest to gain immunity. The vaccine is more effective if the interval between doses is eight weeks, but shortage of doses is a concern. Doctors say many senior citizens are only looking to prevent a severe infection and not the infection itself.

“Should we contract the virus and suffer, or should we get the second dose and be as safe as possible?” asked a 74-year-old man from Koramangala, who got the second dose on Thursday. A 55-yearold man on dialysis said: “We read about vaccine shortage every day. Why take the risk?”

Dr Ashwin Kulkarni, associate professor, MS Ramaiah medical college hospital, said: “What is needed is awareness on vaccination efficacy and the reason why the government increased the spacing. The guidelines keep changing. Most understand when we explain why.” He admitted some seniors got the second dose after just four weeks as they had travel plans.

Manufacturers of Covishield say, efficiency of the vaccine is 53.2 % if the second dose is taken after four weeks. This increases to 60.5% if the interval is 9-11 weeks. If the space between doses is 12 weeks or more, efficacy increases to 78.7%.

For Covaxin, however, the spacing between doses remains at four weeks. However, very few people have been given Covaxin.

On the rush to get fully inoculated, Dr Srivatsa Lokeshwaran, consultant, interventional pulmonology, Aster CMI hospital, said: “Fear is a major factor here. No vaccine is 100% efficacious. In my view, given the current surge, if someone wants the second dose after four weeks, s/he should be given it. The need is to vaccinate as many people possible and quickly as possible.”

He said if 70 people out of 100 get vaccinated, it is still good enough in the current scenario. “The remaining 30% will get indirect immunity as the transmission chain breaks because people are vaccinated,” said Dr Lokeswaran.

WANT IT NOW: Shortage of doses is spooking people who want to ward off a severe infection

KSE admits vax shortage in Shivamogga

District minister KS Eshwarappa, who on Friday held a review meeting with health department officials in Shivamogga, admitted the vaccination drive in the district is faltering due to shortage of doses. Eshwarappa said, so far, 1.7 lakh people got the first dose and 18,000 people were fully inoculated with both doses. He said the district would need another seven lakh doses to inoculate all above 45 years. “If people cannot get the jab on the due date, they will be allowed to get it on another day,” Eshwarappa said. “Health department staff will keep beneficiaries informed.” TNN

Break the chain of viral fake news, TOI shows you how

TIMES Verified

Break the chain of viral fake news, TOI shows you how

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

17.04.2021 

Recently, before Maharashtra went under partial lockdown, a picture of a cop sporting a coronavirusshaped helmet went viral. In the photograph, three men on a bike are seen ducking from the men in khakhi and the headline suggested that the state was about to go into complete lockdown from April 9 to 19.

In the heat of the second wave of the pandemic, misinformation around Covid-19 has been spreading almost as fast as the deadly virus. If you too have contracted anxiety or vaccine hesitancy from consuming the constant avalanche of unverified news that has been tearing through family social media groups, worry not. TOI is here to help break the chain of fake news.

Starting today, Times Verified—an initiative by the Times of India—will debunk falsehoods circulating on social media. All you have to do is save the WhatsApp number 9819432222 on your phone as “Times Verified” and share unverified or suspicious messages that ambush your social media messengers with us here. As soon as we receive your message, our newly-formed expert panel comprising reporters, editors and representatives from the BMC and the government will get cracking. The panel will contact the relevant authorities and sources to check the credibility of the news story and get back to you with a clear picture as soon as possible.

So, whether it is a dubious article about a man who has found a cure for Covid-19 or about a senior citizen who has developed severe complications after the second dose, make sure to send it to us for verification first before allowing it to shape your decisions and discussions. And let our experts fight the contagion of panic caused by falsehoods—both innocent and wilful—by vaccinating you with the truth.

No Cambridge exams, schools to give scores

No Cambridge exams, schools to give scores

Vinamrata.Borwankar@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:17.04.2021 

The Cambridge International late on Friday announced it had cancelled exams for schools in India and had decided to move to school-assessed grades for classes X to XII.

In a communication to its affiliated schools, the board said, “In view of the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in the country, we have decided to switch Cambridge International schools in India, from exams to school-assessed grades, so that students can receive certification and progress with their education.” The board has shared with its schools guidelines for collecting evidence to support school-assessed grades and how to work out the final grade for each student.

As multiple education boards either cancelled or postponed board exams over the past few days, students and parents from Cambridge Internationalaffiliated schools were a worried lot as the board had earlier stated that it would take a decision by Monday, April 19.

“It was very stressful considering that the exam was only a couple of days away. We are relieved with the board making an announcement,” said a parent.

Parents were worried if the exam was conducted, it would risk the health of the stakeholders. “Was Covid-19 going to disappear over the weekend,” said a parent from a south Mumbai international school.

Students who wish to withdraw from the exam series can do so through the portal until April 17 and then by writing to the board in the next seven days. The board has organised webinars over the next week to share information on the school-assessed grades process, including using evidence to allocate grades, using the rationale document and avoiding bias when setting these grades. The board, though, has said it would not be able to offer the same option for primary and lower secondary checkpoints and students could withdraw from March series.

Cremations begin along Saraswati riverbank

Cremations begin along Saraswati riverbank

Bharat.Yagnik@timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad:17.04.2021 

The mounting death toll of Covid-19 patients has left pyres and cremation furnaces incessantly burning across crematoriums in Gujarat. The situation is no different at the Saraswati Muktidham at Siddhpur, known as one of the biggest crematoriums in the state. With barely two furnaces out of 14 rendered operational at the Saraswati Muktidham in Siddhpur, cremations have now begun along the Saraswati river in Siddhpur.

This is perhaps for the first time that so many simultaneous cremations are taking place along the river bank. J D Patel, trustee, Saraswati Muktidham Trust, said, “We have a total of 14 furnaces at the crematorium, of which five are under maintenance. Due to cremations taking place constantly, seven furnaces got burnt and are inoperative for the time being, leaving only two running.”

“Against some 20 cremations taking place in a day on normal days, due to the rise in death toll of Covidpatients, at least 50 cremations are taking place at the crematorium on a daily basis. It is impossible to do so with two furnaces and therefore, we’ve limited it for deceased Covid patients,” said Patel.

Cremation of the dead due to factors other than Covid is presently taking place along the Saraswati riverbank in the conventional way on a wood pyre.

Bodies of the deceased are being brought from Mehsana, Patan and Banaskantha districts to Siddhpur for cremation. “Two days ago i.e. on Wednesday, some 68 cremations took place at the crematorium. Of these, 29 were of Covid-patients,” said Patel.

At present, people at the crematorium have to wait for at least six hours for their turn to perform the cremation.

Of 14 furnaces at Siddhpur crematorium, five are under maintenance and seven are non-functional for the time being. Only two are operational

Covid-19 patient dies ‘twice’ in MP hospital

Covid-19 patient dies ‘twice’ in MP hospital

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal:17.04.2021 

A Covid patient in MP’s Vidisha was declared dead twice in a day, the first time because of an error by the staff, leaving his family on the tenterhooks.

The first time the hospital authorities issued the death certificate, family members rushed to the crematorium to arrange for wood only to be told that he was still on ventilator. He finally died around 6pm on Thursday.

The 58-year-old patient, a native of Sultania village in Vidisha, was admitted to Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College on April 12 with a ‘neck ailment’. His family says he wasn’t a Covid patient at the time of admission.

He was first declared dead on Thursday afternoon and the death certificate was issued. Soon, his family members told that he was still alive. A few hours later, the family was again told that he had died.

Do not close graft complaints, DMK tells DVAC

Do not close graft complaints, DMK tells DVAC

D.Govardan@timesgroup.com

Chennai: 17.04.2021 

With just about a fortnight left for counting of votes for the Tamil Nadu assembly election, the opposition DMK has urged the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to keep its hands off corruption complaints already submitted to the agency by the party. “Corruption has been on the rise in Tamil Nadu for the last five years and the DMK has assured the people of the state that those who have indulged in corruption, including the chief minister and his council of ministers, would be brought to book,” DMK organization secretary R S Bharathi said in his petition to the DVAC director on Thursday.

Bharathi said he had been given to understand that the DVAC is taking efforts to close all the complaints relating to corruption received against the chief minister and his council of ministers. He urged the DVAC to “keep their hands off” from these complaints until the new elected government takes charge in Tamil Nadu and not to “heed to any pressure from the ruling AIADMK”.

The corruption complaints have been lodged with the DVAC by the DMK, over the past couple of years, against chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, several of his cabinet ministers and a few MLAs of the ruling party. Subsequently, DMK president M K Stalin had bundled some of these complaints and submitted two memorandums to the Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal Purohit seeking action, following DVAC’s inaction on the complaints.

“We have submitted several corruption complaints against the chief minister, ministers P Thangamani, S P Velumani and C Vijayabaskar among others. On April 5, we lodged a complaint against deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam too on the illegal allocation of prime land near Koyambedu,” Bharathi told TOI. “We have now received information that attempts are being made to close the corruption complaint files. The police officials and the home secretary are part of the home department, which is part of the chief minister’s portfolio. We have already lodged corruption complaints against the chief minister himself. The AIADMK government is the only entity that can direct officials even now,” Bharathi said.