4L cases for 4th day, 2nd wave may be peaking

4L cases for 4th day, 2nd wave may be peaking

Amit.Bhattacharya@timesgroup.com

09.05.2021

Even as India recorded more than four lakh fresh Covid cases for the fourth day running on Saturday and over 4,000 deaths for the second consecutive day, there were early signs in the data that the devastating second wave in the country could be reaching its peak.

For the first time since the beginning of the second wave in mid-February, the seven-day rolling average of daily cases dipped on Friday. The dip was negligible, just a drop of 118 cases out of the day’s total average of more than 3.9 lakh. But it indicated a distinct slowing down in the growth of daily cases over the past week.

The seven-day average stood at 3,91,263 on Saturday, having risen by 20,117 in the past week. The slowdown was evident when one compared this with a growth of 61,173 cases in the previous seven days (April 24-May 1), and a rise of 1,06,024 in the week before (April 17-24). While the curve is bending, the trend needs to continue into the next week before a more definitive statement can be made about the country having reached the peak of the second wave.

Active Covid cases stood at over 37.8 lakh on Saturday

There were several uncertainties around that. For one, the positivity rate in the country was still high and increasing. India recorded a positivity rate of 22% the past three days, up from 21% recorded on the same three days last week. Cases were still surging in several states of the country, led by Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in the south, Assam and Bengal in the east and Uttarakhand, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and J&K in the north.

Besides, the growth in cases remained higher than the national average in states such as Rajasthan and Bihar.

On the positive side, Maharashtra was showing a drop in weekly cases while there was a distinct slowdown in other big Covidhit states such as Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

On Saturday, India recorded 4,01,012 fresh cases. This was the fourth straight day of 4-lakh-plus daily infections in the country. However, the numbers have declined marginally over the past two days after hitting a peak of 4,14,554 on Thursday.

Deaths continued to surge with 4,135 fatalities reported on Saturday, nearly as high as the previous day’s record toll of 4,187. Active cases in the country continued to rise, although the growth rate had slowed over the past week. On Saturday, the count of active cases stood at over 37.8 lakh.

TN shuts for 15 days as cases spike, hosps run out of beds

TN shuts for 15 days as cases spike, hosps run out of beds

All Shops To Remain Open Till 9pm Today

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:09.05.2021

As Covid-19 cases crossed 27,000 a day and an overstretched healthcare sector struggled to handle the growing number of patients, the state government on Saturday announced a complete lockdown across Tamil Nadu from 4am on May 10 to 4am on May 24. Chief minister M K Stalin said that more than 23 districts in TN had reported a positivity rate of more than10%.

On Saturday, nearly 86% of oxygen beds and 87% of ICU beds across the state were occupied. In high incidence districts such as Chennai, 99% of beds in ICUs and 96% oxygen beds were full. In districts like Dharmapuri, Tirupur, Tiruvallur and Ranipet there were no ICU beds.

Puducherry, too, on Saturday imposed a two-week lockdown starting May 10. Several states, including Kerala, Karnataka and New Delhi, have announced varying degrees of lockdown.

“In view of the impending total lockdown, the government has allowed all shops and establishments to operate for two days, May 8 and 9 (Saturday and Sunday), between 6am and 9pm,” the CM said.

IN TUNE: RPF organised a flash mob at MGR Central on Saturday as part of a Covid-19 awareness drive

Lockdown: Carry IDs if commuting to work

The decision has been taken following the views expressed by collectors, medical experts and recommendations of the Union government. The number of active cases in the state has crossed 1.35 lakh — a sharp increase compared to the same period in March. All government offices, except essential departments like secretariat, medical and family welfare, revenue, police, electricity and drinking water supply, will remain closed. Central government offices, autonomous/subordinate offices and public corporations will also remain closed. All private offices, IT and ITES establishments too will remain shut and so will industries other than exempted ones.

In a statement, AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam said the total lockdown would be of great help to contain the spread. “I welcome the government’s decision to continue Amma canteens and shut Tasmac outlets,” he said. The AIADMK leader said the government could increase mini clinics and allow them to function 24 hours by engaging temporary doctors to reduce the burden on government hospitals. He also urged the state to extend incentives to health workers. PMK leader S Anbumani Ramadoss suggested the government could waive off power bills for two months. AMMK leader T T V Dhinakaran demanded that the government provide free food thrice a day in Amma canteens.

The permitted activities during the lockdown include supply of milk, newspapers, courier service, hospitals, medical labs, pharmacies, ambulance, hearse and allied medical activities, goods vehicles, vehicles carrying agricultural produce, oxygen and fuel. Shops selling fertilisers, pesticides, seeds and fodder outlets will be allowed to function between 6am and noon. Takeaway service will be permitted in restaurants, hotels, bakeries and mess between 6am and 10am, noon and 3pm and 6pm and 9pm. Ecommerce activities will be allowed only during this permitted time. Roadside eateries cannot open for business.

Pavement vendors selling vegetables and fruits will be permitted till noon. PDS outlets will function between 8am and noon. Volunteers and caregivers attending to people with special needs and elderly citizens will be allowed to travel with ID cards and permission letters issued by employers. Judiciary and courts, ongoing construction activities and media will be allowed. The government has already permitted continuous process industries and industries manufacturing essential commodities. The staff/ workers will be allowed to travel either in company vehicles or own vehicles with display of ID cards. There is no bar on conducting wedding ceremonies with a maximum of 50 people. For funeral and performance of last rites, there is a cap of 20 people.

Maintenance and other critical IT infrastructure needed for medical, financial, transport and other critical services will be permitted. Banks, ATMs, and insurance services will be allowed with 50% workforce.

₹2,000 Covid relief to be distributed from May 15

₹2,000 Covid relief to be distributed from May 15

Shanmughasundaram.J@timesgroup.com

Chennai:09.05.2021

The Tamil Nadu government will start distribution of ₹2,000 as the first instalment of Covid-19 relief to ration cardholders on May 15. To facilitate cash distribution, the government will first distribute tokens to 2.07 crore ration cardholders starting from May 10.

After assuming charge as the chief minister of the state, M K Stalin had issued an order to give Covid financial aid to ration cardholders. He had also slashed Aavin milk price by ₹3 per litre and announced free travel for women in town and city buses.

As regards distribution of financial aid, the salesmen and helpers at ration shops would first distribute the tokens at the cardholders’ doorstep. It would commence on Monday and would be completed in three days. “We will distribute the financial aid from May 15. A total of 2.07 crore families will benefit,” commissioner of Tamil Nadu civil supplies corporation limited Sajjan Singh R Chavan told TOI.

The authorities are taking efforts to disburse the aid in a seamless manner and avoid gathering of cardholders at the ration shops. The tokens have been printed. Details such as ration shop number, name of the cardholder, name of village/street, date and time of distribution will have to be filled in. “The cardholders will be told to visit the shop to collect the cash at the given date and time. Crowding will be avoided. We have instructed the staff at each shop to follow safety measures and maintain social distancing while distributing money,” Chavan added.

Chief minister M K Stalin, in a video message on Saturday, said the ₹2,000 would be the first instalment of the ₹4,000 Covid aid promised by his party before the polls. It would be helpful to the people when the state is going for 14 days lockdown from May 10.

Workers will distribute tokens to eligible ration card holders from Monday and date, time to receive cash will be sent to the beneficiaries to avoid crowding

SHRC awards ₹25,000 to woman who had needle stuck inside

SHRC awards ₹25,000 to woman who had needle stuck inside

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:09.05.2021

State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has awarded ₹25,000 compensation to a woman who had a needle stuck inside her due to the negligence of medical staff at a Primary Health Centre in Ramanathapuram district. A nurse, while suturing a wound after the woman delivered a girl child, accidentally slipped the needle, which had to be removed later after another surgery.

The commission took suo motu note of the incident based based on media reports. According to the reports, K Ramya was admitted to the Primary Health Centre at Uchipuli in Ramanathapuram district.

A broken needle which got struck inside the 22 year old woman’s stomach after she delivered a baby was removed. However, angry relatives of the woman gathered outside the health centre and demanded action against the medical officers citing medical negligence, according to the news report. The incident happened in November 2019.

The commission then sought for a detailed report from the Director of Public health and a report was submitted in January 2020.

According to the report, a six-member committee conducted an investigation in the matter. According to the report, after delivering the child, the nurse was suturing the episotomy wound with a needle, when the suture material slipped and got struck in the wound. Staff nurse continued the suture using another needle and the wound was closed.

Later in the night, when the duty medical officer attended the patient, her vitals were stable after which the nurse informed of the mistake. Next day, an X-Ray was taken and presence of a foreign particle was confirmed. The patient was then referred to the government hospital in Ramanathapuram where another surgery was conducted to remove the needle. According to the report, the medical staff at the PHC were negligent in their duty, the commission noted.

Air fares soar high as demand rises ahead of lockdown

Air fares soar high as demand rises ahead of lockdown

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:09.05.2021

The total lockdown announced by the state government from Monday has triggered a sudden demand for flights, trains and buses as people, including guest workers, scrambled to return home. Air fares shot up while private omni buses started overcharging passengers leaving Chennai. For instance, a one-way trip to Nagercoil cost around ₹3,000 on Saturday.

The traffic was two-way for flights as people were booking to leave the city and, reach the city before the lockdown kicked in. Air fares shot up on several routes including Kolkata, Guwahati, Ahmedabad, and Jaipur for travel on Sunday as demand was high. A Chennai-Guwahati ticket was priced at Rs14,000, Delhi at ₹7,000 to ₹12,000, and Ahmedabad at ₹7,000 to ₹10,000. Fares to reach the city from different parts of the country were similar.

Airlines have reduced the number of departures to 43 on Saturday. "There is demand for flights as people want to return homebeforeMonday and many who are away in other states want to reach Chennai as it will be difficult to travel when shutdown begins on Monday," said an airport official. Airlines may cancel more flights in the coming days because people will not travel during the total lockdown, he added.

Chennai mofussil bus terminus and omni bus terminus at Koyambedu saw a huge crowd of people returning home to neighbouring districts and to southern districts on Saturday. Transport Minister RS Raja Kannappan said that a fine of Rs10,000 would be collected for selling bus tickets at a higher price than usual and buses would be impounded by the nearest police station.

To clear the anticipated rush, the state transport authority had operated additionalspecialbusestosouthernand western districts on Saturday night and Sunday round the clock.

S Rly cancels 50 trains until month-end

S Rly cancels 50 trains until month-end

Chennai:09.05.2021

Southern Railway has cancelled 28 trains within the state and 22 inter-state trains till the end of the month due to poor occupancy.

The cancelled trainsintrastate are: 

Egmore-Karaikudi from May 8 to 31, 

Karaikudi-Egmore from May 9 to June 1, 

Egmore-Madurai and Madurai-Egmore from May 8 to 31, 

Egmore-Madurai from May 9 to June 1, 

Madurai-Egmore from May 8 to 31, 

Egmore-Trichy from May 9 to June 1, 

Trichy-Egmore from May 8 to 31, 

Egmore-Madurai from May 14 to 30,

 Madurai-Egmore from May 13 to 29, 

Chennai Central-Erode from May 8 to 31, 

Erode-Central from May 8 to 31,

 Central-Coimbatore from May 8 to 31, 

Coimbatore-Central from May 8 to 31, 

Central-Madurai from May 10 to 28, 

Madurai-Central from May 11 to 30, 

Egmore-Nagercoil from May13 to 27, 

Nagercoil-Egmore on Fridays from May14 to 28, 

Tambaram-Nagercoil from May 8 to 31, 

Nagercoil-Egmore from May 9 to June 1, 

Central-Jolarpet from May 8 to 31, 

Jolarpet-Central from May 9 to June 1, 

Tambaram-Nagercoil from May 9 to 31, 

Nagercoil- Tambaram from May10 to June1.

The inter-state trains are: 

Central-Trivandrum, Trivandrum-Central from May 8 to 1, 

Tirunelveli-Palakkad from May 8 to June 1, 

Trichy-Palakkad Town from May 8 to June 1, 

Central-KSR Bangalore from May 8 to 31, 

Central-Mangalore from May 9 to June 1, 

Nagercoil-Mangalore from May 9 to June1, 

Egmore-Puducherry from May 8 to 31, 

Central-Tirupati from May 8 to 31, 

Central-Nizamuddin from May15 to 29, 

Nizamuddin-Central on Mondays from May 17 to 31. TNN

Govt to consider free bus travel for transgenders

Govt to consider free bus travel for transgenders

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:09.05.2021

A day after the newly elected DMK government announced free travel for women in ordinary (whiteboard) town buses, chief minister M K Stalin said his government would consider extending the scheme to cover transgenders. The chief minister responded to a tweet by a journalist requesting him to include transgenders in the scheme as many from the community struggle financially.

Stalin, in his response to the tweet, said the DMK has always been considerate towards the welfare of transgenders and that they would take a decision on the matter at the earliest. His response was lauded by members from the transgender community, who said providing free travel would make it easier for them to travel long distances for work and work-related opportunities.

Jaya, general manager of trans rights NGO Sahodaran, was confident of a positive decision from the government. “The DMK was a pioneer in implementing welfare projects for transgenders, we are sure they will implement this scheme too,” she said.

Grace Banu, a trans activist and founder of the Trans Rights Now Collective, said it is important to include transgenders in this scheme during the pandemic as many do not have jobs and are struggling with little financial aid. “This could be the first and positive step to help the community,” she said.