WB shuts schools; restricts flights from Delhi, Mumbai

 WB shuts schools; restricts flights from Delhi, Mumbai

---

Kolkata:

03.01.2022

As Covid cases rose nearly 12-fold in just seven days, the West Bengal government brought back stricter curbs on Sunday shutting all educational institutions from Monday and restricting flights from Delhi and Mumbai besides asking all offices to operate with a half their workforce.

At a press conference on Sunday afternoon, chief secretary H K Dwivedi announced that only essential services will be permitted to operate between 10pm and 5am in the state till January 15 and flights from the Mumbai and New Delhi, which have both reported a large numbers of infections will ply only twice a week in view of the rising number of Covid cases.

West Bengal, which witnessed a sudden spurt in Covid-19 cases with a near 12fold rise in the last seven days, on Sunday reported 6,153 new infections, 1,641 more than the previous day, with Kolkata accounting for 3,194 new cases, a health bulletin released by the state government said.

Dwivedi said starting January 5, flights from the two metropolises will be allowed only on Mondays and Fridays till a decision is taken reviewing the pandemic situation.

The state government had earlier announced that flights from the UK will not be allowed for the time being.

“As part of the restrictions, flights from these two cities will operate only twice a week — Mondays and Fridays,” he said.

PTI

Prepare plan to expand vaccination coverage in poll-bound states: Centre

New Delhi: Amid rising Omicron infected Covid-19 cases in the country, health minister Mansukh Mandaviya asked states to make all possible efforts to scale up health infrastructure so that India can combat the surge. Besides, states were also advised to prepare a weekly plan to expand vaccination coverage, particularly in the five poll-bound states of Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Manipur.

In a high-level meeting with states on Sunday to review preparedness of health systems at the state level and progress in vaccination coverage, Mandaviya asked states to leave no stone unturned in ramping up infrastructure to manage a high surge so that India escapes unscathed from this episode of Covid-19, the health ministry said in a statement.

TNN

How GH saved man from jaws of black fungus

 How GH saved man from jaws of black fungus

---

Omjasvin.MD@timesgroup.com

Chennai:

03.01.2022

He spent two months in the ICU of the Rajiv Gandhi government general hospital (RGGGH) from August 11. Last month, Bhakyaraj 35, a farmer from the Cauvery delta, returned for a final check-up and to thank the doctors who cured him of rhino-orbital mucormycosis or the post-Covid complication called black fungus.

The treatment cost ₹25 lakh and half of it was borne by the government under Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme and a half of it was sourced through an NGO, by the government.

Bhakyaraj, a diabetic, was shifted from the Thanjavur general hospital to the RGGGH when his condition deteriorated. The specialists at the Chennai hospital had to deal with five life-threat- ening complications.

Interventional radiologist Dr S Kalpana said the main arteries leading to the brain were dilated. “We could not place a normal stent since the ballooning was longer than usual. We had to purchase two flow diverters costing ₹20 lakh. These are thinner stents that ensure smooth supply through the arteries. Aneurysm was treated by placing coils,” she said.

The doctors accessed the blood vessels through a 5mm incision in the patient’s hip. The whole process monitored by digital subtraction Angiography. The intervention was done on October 15 and the patient was discharged on October 26. RGGGH dean Dr E Theranirajan said the patient came back for a check-up on December 6 and he was doing fine. “The person’s life was saved because of the timely management by interventional radiology and other specialists at the RGGGH, along with support by the government,” he said.

Bhakyaraj’s wife, in a video message, said she did not have words to thank the government and doctors, who caured such a life-threatening illness free of cost.

More than 10 specialists, nurses, anaesthetists and health care assistants from various departments were involved in the treatment.

 

Schools plan to call half their students to avoid over-crowding, clusters

---

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:

03.01.2022

Amid rising Covid-19 cases, city schools have decided to return to blended classrooms from Monday as they plan to call only half their students for physical classes to ensure Covid-19 protocols inside classrooms.

Due to a spike in cases, the state government has reversed its decision to resume normal classes for Class IX to XII from January 3, apart from barring physical classes for Class I to VIII till January 10.

While asking schools to conduct physical classes for Class IX to XIII, the school education department asked schools to maintain   protocols like 20 students per classroom, face masks and staggeredbreaks.

Due to non-availability of space and teachers, some schools are planning to call studentsin batches while othersare planning to call 50% students to avoid over-crowding.

V Shanthi, headmistress of Vidyodaya Girls Higher Secondary School in T Nagar, said, the school may call 50% students from Class IX to XII for physical classes to maintain the 20 students per classroom nor m.

M SathishKumar, principal of Vana Vani Matriculation Higher Secondary School, (IIT-M campus), said, the school will divide students of Class IX to XII into two batches to maintain social distancing inside classrooms. “Class IX and XIstudents will attend physical classes whenever Class X, XII do not have tests. During the test days, they will attend classes online,” he said.

GRT Mahalakshmi Vidyalaya Matriculation Higher Secondary Schoolin Ashok Nagar is planning to work only till 1pm to avoid students having lunch and mixing with other students.

"We have arranged two students in a row and plan to work only till 1pm. Students will not be permitted to have lunch at schools," said Agnes Rita, principal of the school.

Most schools have scheduled online classes for Class I to VIII.

Schools with more students like Everwin Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Kolathur are planning to employ additional teachers and conduct daily classes for Classes I to VIII.

Colleges are preparing students for offline semester exams from January 20. "We have completed syllabus for second and third year students. Still about 20% of syllabus need to be completed for first year students. If Covid-19 cases continue to rise, we can conduct physical mode exams by extending number of exam days. We can conduct semester exams yearwise by following all Covid protocols," said S Santhosh Baboo, principal of DG Vaishnav College.

Professors warned the degrees may not be valued by the recruiters if the state government again go back to online mode of exams.

 

Masks find no takers among visitors to Mamallapuram

---

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  03.01.2022

There was scant regard for masks at tourist hotspots on ECR and Mamallapuram on Sunday, a day after travellers thronged these attractions during the New Year’s day.

The popular tourist hotspot of Mamallapuram was teeming with travellers largely from Chennai and neighbouring districts even as cases continue to spike across the state.

Scores of visitors who explored the ticketed monuments ignored the mandatory mask rule at public places.

The situation at Kovalam beach was no different. The tourist hotspot was flocked by hundreds of people without masks and social distancing. Footfall at the beach was high on Sunday with cars parked on both sides of the road leading to the promenade. This caused massive traffic snarls. There was poor enforcement of Covid-19 protocols in both these places.

While about 5,000 people visited ticketed monuments of ASI on Friday, the number spiked to around 12,000 on Saturday. The TTDC's houseboat at Muttukadu recorded a footfall of 2,000 visitors on Saturday and Sunday.

Mamallapuram-based tourist guide R Stalin said that nine out of ten visitors to Mamallapuram on Sunday did not wear masks.

Meanwhile, ASI sources said that entry into the monuments was not allowed without masks, and that people remove their masks once the enter the main gate of the monument.

When contacted, Chengalpet district collector A R Rahul Nadh said special teams comprising revenue and police department and the local body have been formed to ensure that Covid protocols are not violated at tourist hotspots.

Third wave has started in Tamil Nadu: Minister

Third wave has started in Tamil Nadu: Minister

03/01/2022

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI  03.01.2022

The third wave of COVID-19 has started in Tamil Nadu, Health Minister Ma. Subramanian said on Sunday.

“The infection is spreading. In the past few days, it has been rising incrementally,” he said, inspecting the 17th mega vaccination camp here. Though Chennai continued to lead the State in vaccination, over five lakh persons had not received even one dose, he said.

 

1,594 fresh Covid cases across state

---

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

03.01.2022

Chennai:

As Covid-19 continues to spread across Tamil Nadu, the state government has intensified its fight against the disease.

On Sunday, 1,594 people tested positive across the state, slightly higher than Saturday’s figure of 1,489.

Chennai once again reported the maximum number of fresh cases (776). The district's Test Positivity Rate (TPR) jumped to 3. 1% —almost double the state's average TPR of 1. 4%.

There were no new Omicron cases in the state on Sunday. Of the 118 patients found infected by the new variant, only 20 are undergoing treatment while the rest were discharged after testing negative.

Another six people died of Covid-19 on Sunday, pushing up the state’s cumulative death toll to 36,760.

With respect to vaccination, 15. 16 lakh people got inoculated on Sunday. At present, more than 86% of the state's eligible population have got their first doses and 59% are fully vaccinated. The government is set to begin administration of booster doses for frontline workers and those aged above 60 from January10.

 

Rising cases force Bengal to go for tougher curbs

---

03.01.2022

The Bengal government on Sunday brought back many restrictions as the state recorded 6,153 fresh Covid cases, the highest single-day rise since May. All academic institutions will remain closed till January 15, as will swimming pools, salons, spas and wellness centres. All modes of local transport will be permitted till 10pm and operate with 50% capacity; pubilc and private offices too will operate at 50% strength. Night curfew will now last from 10pm to 5am.