TN registers close to 25K cases of Covid-19, 197 deaths

TN registers close to 25K cases of Covid-19, 197 deaths

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:07.05.2021

Tamil Nadu logged 195 deaths and 24,898 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, when all districts barring Ariyalur and Perambalur reported more than 100 cases. The surge left the state with 1.3 lakh active cases as the case tally crossed 12.9 lakh. The cumulative death toll reached 14,974.

In the last one week, the state has added 1,041 Covid -19 deaths and 1.4 lakh new cases. This includes 319 deaths and 42,727 new cases in Chennai. The city now has 33316 active cases in its registry.

On Thursday, four districts reported more than 1000 new cases, a dozen of them had more than 500 cases each. Chennai continued to report the maximum number of cases in the state, followed by Coimbatore, Chengalpet and Tiruvallur. While Chennai had 6,678 new cases, Coimbatore recorded 2068, Chengalpet registered 2039 and Tiruvallur had 1560. Madurai added 996 and Kancheepuram had (826). Ariyalur and Perambalur reported 88 and 60 cases respectively.

Together the four districts in the Chennai region reported 11,113 cases and 110 deaths, leaving 54,847 still under treatment – just about the same number of active cases the entire state had on April 14. The other districts in the north reported 2376 new cases followed by 2072 in the central zone. While the western districts together reported 4770 new cases, 4565 Meanwhile, among 29 districts reported deaths, Chennai had 69 deaths, Chengalpet reported 16, followed by 14 in Kanyakumari, 13 in Kancheepuram and 12 in Tiruvallur. The Chennai region reported 110 deaths and the rest of the north added another16. The ten districts in the south reported 35 deaths, followed by 20 in the central zone and 14 in the west.

1,510 cases in Pondy

Puducherry reported1,510 fresh cases on Thursday even as 779 patients recovered, taking the total number of active cases to12,430. Of them,10,394 patients are in home isolation and treatment. The number of patients succumbing to the infection crossed 900 on Thursday. Eighteen patients including six women died of the infection in the last 24 hours ending at10am on Thursday taking the death toll to

901. Puducherry headquarters reported17 deaths while Yanam one. Puducherry headquarters has the maximum fatalities with 737 followed by Karaikal (96), Yanam (54) and Mahe (14). The fatality rate of the infection stood at 1.4%. TNN

Vaccination drive stutters in city as vials in short supply

Covaxin Used Only For Administering Second Dose

Komal Gautham@timesgroup.com

Chennai:07.05.2021

The Greater Chennai Corporation that was vaccinating more than 25,000 people on an average daily has, for the last four days, been vaccinating only around 9,000 a day. All those seeking covaxin are sent back and with Covishield doses also in short supply, vaccination numbers dipped sharply.

“We had placed orders with two vendors, 7.65 lakh vials from one and 2.65 lakh vials from another. We will start receiving the order from today (Thursday). Apart from that we are working on placing more orders,” said J Radhakrishnan, state health secretary.

However, districts such as Madurai have been continuing the same number of vaccinations despite the shortage. “Only Covaxin is in short supply. We are administering only Covishield so we don’t have much issue,” said an official from Madurai.

In Coimbatore and Chennai, however, with both being administered in corporation hospitals and UPHCs, people are being turned away.

“We are prioritizing only the second dose of Covaxin and are not administering it as first dose to anyone. Covishield supply remains the same,” said a senior health official in Chennai corporation.

Roopa R, a resident of Saidapet, said she isn't able to get Covaxin anywhere even in private hospitals. “We preferred Covaxin over Covishield though experts have said both vaccines have the same results. But because of the lack of availability, we have delayed the vaccination now,” she said.

Many like Satish G of Sholinganallur are waiting for the second dose. His was due on May 4, but he is still waiting for the corporation to give him a call. “They have said a delay of a week won’t make any difference but I am not too sure and am trying private hospitals,” he said.

Health experts said that with vaccination the only option, the government should work on getting vaccines from open market and place big orders.

“A day of lockdown will cost them more than paying for the vaccinations. They can use the money to vaccinate people at a faster pace to avoid a crisis like in Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi,” said a senior epidemiologist in the city.

‘Madras HC remarks on EC inappropriate’

‘Madras HC remarks on EC inappropriate’

New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Thursday termed the Madras high court’s “murder charge” remarks against the Election Commission “harsh” and the “metaphor inappropriate” as it walked a tightrope between praising the role of HCs during the pandemic and advising judges against making off-the cuff remarks during hearings, reports Dhananjay Mahapatra.

In a 31-page judgment on the EC’s plea against the HC’s remarks, a bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and M R Shah achieved three objectives — assuaged the EC’s hurt, ensured that judges did not feel restrained from questioning the actions of constitutional bodies and the executive during the pandemic, and expanded the media’s right to cover court proceedings.

Can’t gag media on court matters

Moving away from a nine-year-old order over curbs on court proceedings to protect the rights of the accused, the SC on Thursday said the media had an unfettered right to report exchanges during hearings. It rejected the EC’s plea to make media publish only orders and judgments.P 8

Oral remarks not part of judicial record: Bench

Writing the judgment, Justice Chandrachud said, “The remarks of the high court were harsh. The metaphor inappropriate.”

However, it was quick to clarify that it was not blaming the HC for remarks that could have been made during the flow of dialogue process intrinsic to judicial scrutiny of actions of constitutional bodies and the executive during the pandemic.

“The HC, if indeed it did make the oral observations which have been alluded to, did not seek to attribute culpability for the Covid-19 pandemic in the country to the EC. What it would have instead intended to do was to urge the EC to ensure stricter compliance of Covid-19 related protocols during elections,” the bench said.

It further clarified that oral observations by judges of superior courts during a hearing did not form part of court records and were at best meant to elicit a studied response from the authorities for reaching a just conclusion. “These oral remarks are not a part of the official judicial record and, therefore, the question of expunging them does not arise. It is trite to say that a formal opinion of a judicial institution is reflected through its judgments and orders, and not its oral observations during the hearing,” it said.

However, the bench appeared worried about an emerging trend of judges making needless caustic observations against litigants during hearings, be it constitutional bodies, governments or individual litigants. “We must emphasise the need for judges to exercise caution in off-the-cuff remarks in open court, which may be susceptible to misinterpretation,” Justice Chandrachud said.

The SC also advised judges to be careful in choosing the words and the language they use and said if the Madras HC had exercised restraint, the grievance of a constitutional body against another would not have arisen. “Language, both on the bench and in judgments, must comport with judicial propriety. Language is an important instrument of a judicial process which is sensitive to constitutional values. Judicial language is a window to a conscience sensitive to constitutional ethos,” the bench said.

NEED FOR CAUTION

Rly cancels premium trains citing low bookings

Rly cancels premium trains citing low bookings

New Delhi:07.05.2021

The Northern Railways on Thursday cancelled two Rajdhani, eight Shatabdi, two Duronto and one Vande Bharat trains from Delhi effective from May 9 till further orders citing low bookings and surging Covid cases. This is the first time when these premium trains have been cancelled after the railways had restored the train operation post the nationwide lockdown last year. TNN

Kerala govt announces total lockdown from tomorrow till May 16

Kerala govt announces total lockdown from tomorrow till May 16

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Thiruvananthapuram:07.05.2021

The Kerala government on Thursday announced a total lockdown in the state from May 8 to 16 in view of the worsening Covid-19 situation and the rising test positivity rate (TPR).

Though lockdown-like restrictions have already been in force since May 4, the government decided to go for stricter curbs after public health experts said the present restrictions are not yielding desired results. The health department has been demanding a total lockdown ever since the daily cases went beyond 30,000.

The daily cases being reported in Kerala have gone above 40,000 over the past two days — 41,953 cases on Wednesday and 42,464 on Thursday. The TPR also rose to 27.28% on Thursday, with the total number of active cases reaching 3,90,906. As many as 63 fatalities were reported on the day. Most districts have a TPR above 20% for the past two weeks while hospital beds are filling up at an alarming rate.

All central and state government offices, including the autonomous bodies but except those in active Covid-19 duty, will not function during the lockdown. The government has, however, given more exemptions than the national lockdown last year, apparently in consideration of the hardships being faced by the public in a total shutdown.

Full report on www.toi-.in

SHOT OF HOPE: People wait to receive Covid-19 vaccine doses outside a centre in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday

Second wave has launched deadly attack on lungs

Second wave has launched deadly attack on lungs

Parth.Shastri@timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad:07.05.2021

Prakash Chandra, 59, did not have any symptoms of Covid-19 but got himself tested after his son tested positive. His report came positive. When his doctor insisted for a CT scan after his blood tests revealed high sugar levels and inflammatory markers, it was found that 50% of his lung was involved. His oxygen saturation too had dipped to 85. All this on Day-1! He is now admitted in the hospital with his son whose scan has revealed nearly 60% damage to his lungs by the virus.

Even as the debate on importance of HRCT rages on after the statement of AIIMS-D director Dr Randeep Guleria that HRCT did not serve any purpose in mild and home isolated Covid-19 patients, city-based radiologists are busy with high number of infected and suspected patients lining up for high-resolution CT (HRCT) of thorax (chest and lungs) to understand lung involvement and severity of the infection. Doctors say CT score of lungs is helping save many lives especially in the current wave when the strain seems to be attacking lungs more ferociously than ever.“Current strain seems to attack lungs more furiously. More young patients are found to have moderate to severe lung disease compared to earlier waves,” said senior radiologist Dr Hemant Patel.

 PROMISE DASHED

‘Stressed’ MBBS student on Covid duty hangs to death

Long Note Makes Cops Suspect It’s Pre-Planned

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Vadodara:

The medical fraternity in Vadodara was left in a deep shock after a 22-year-old MBBS student committed suicide, reportedly due to stress.

Siddharth Bhadrecha, a third-year-student of GMERS Medical College and Hospital, Gotri, was found hanging in his hostel room early on Wednesday morning.

Siddharth, a native of Mangrol taluka of Junagadh, left a suicide note written in English wherein he said that he was ending his life due to stress.

“The first few lines of the note said that he was committing suicide due to stress. But there was no mention of the reason behind the stress. We are trying to ascertain why he was so stressed. His friends had no idea of his condition and neither his parents knew anything,” said R C Kanamia, Gorwa police inspector.

Siddharth had been doing Covid duty at Gotri GMERS hospital. Kanamia said, “His Covid duty was over on April 30 and he was off duty. We are not sure if his suicide was due to any work pressure. His mobile phone is locked but we will go through the call details to get more clues.”

Siddharth’s room partner had a brief chat with him on Tuesday night and then left for his duty. Police claimed that his room partner told them that Siddharth didn’t appear tense or in any problem. When he returned from duty and knocked on their hostel room’s door, Siddharth didn’t answer. The door was locked from inside so he put his mobile phone camera through the window to check and saw Siddharth hanging from the ceiling.

“He ended his life between 1.30am and 7 am. In his three-page suicide note, Siddharth wrote that he couldn’t be a good son and brother. He thanked his parents and even mentioned his friends as well as lecturers. The deceased said that he was lucky to have good friends and teachers who taught him a lot,” Kanamia told TOI.

He also wrote about his dreams of buying a car and a motorbike, and how he wanted to live his life as a good person. Siddharth’s father is into fishing business.

Investigators said that he may have planned to commit suicide as he wrote a long note.

Resident doctors and interns are reeling under severe work pressure. Sources said they also complained of relentless work without break or leave.

On April 23, the death of 22-year-old physiotherapy student had sparked massive outrage among the students who had alleged that she was forced to work in the Covid-19 ward despite her comorbidities.

Siddharth Bhadrecha was a third-year student

‘Donate my organs’

In his suicide note, Siddharth Bhadrecha mentioned two wishes. He said that his body organs should be donated to the needy. “Siddharth’s second wish was that the police shouldn’t waste their time and investigate his suicide case,” said R C Kanamia, Gorwa police inspector.