Heat may slow down virus, but early summer unlikely

Amit.Bhattacharya@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:27.03.2020

Many Indians have been praying for an early onset of peak summer this year in the light of some studies that have shown that transmission of Covid-19 infections may slow down in high heat. That hope may be dashed, with Met department forecasts showing the chances of summer setting in early are low. Temperatures across most of India are likely to remain below normal at least over the next two weeks, the India Meteorological Department’s extended range forecast reveals.

The forecast, which gives weekly outlooks for the next 28 days, shows that the probability of the mercury hitting 40°C, even in central India, are low till the second week of April.

“Several parts of north and central India are likely to get rain over the next two-three days under the influence of very active back-to-back western disturbances (WDs). Again, next week, some rain is expected in north India, particularly over the Himalayas,” said Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, head of IMD. He added that temperatures aren’t expected to rise significantly over most parts of India over the next two weeks or so.

“Currently, we see the influence of northerly winds right down to latitudes where Mumbai is located. These are relatively cool winds which, along with the rainfall, are likely to prevent temperatures from rising. However, in south India, thunderstorms are beginning to show up, which is a sign of rising heat,” he said.

A recent analysis by scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology had shown that coronavirus infections may transmit at a slower rate in places where the weather is hot.In general, the high summer period in India sees the least number of virus infections.

According to the extended range forecast for the March 26 to April 9 period, temperatures in all four regions of the country are expected to be below the climatological values (normal).

Full report on www.toi.in

VIRUS WATCH

2020 NEET-UG scheduled for May 3 likely to be postponed

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:27.03.2020

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Under Graduate (NEET UG) 2020 scheduled for May 3, 2020, is likely to be postponed as a result of the 21-day lock down. The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Thursday decided to not issue the admit card that were to be downloaded by the candidates on Friday. The Joint Entrance Examination (Main) will also be rescheduled as the lock down will continue till April 14. The NTA will issue a notification on the status NEET-UG 2020 on Friday.

Deciding not to issue the admit cards for the time being, a senior NTA official said, “We will not be issuing the admit cards on March 27, 2020, as scheduled. The new date for downloading of admit cards will be issued later following a review. A final call will be taken jointly by the ministries of health and family welfare and human resource development.” The health and HRD ministries are in talks regarding the dates for the issuing of admit cards. Based on the directions, NTA will issue a notification on Friday on the future course of action.

LIFE UNDER QUARANTINE

‘The healthcare ‘angels’ were always with me, day & night’

27.03.2020

When I reached the Medical College Hospital in Kalamassery on March 20, I was praying hard for my test to be negative. I gave my samples and was sent home to self-quarantine. But unfortunately, after a day, I was tested positive for Covid-19 and was moved to the isolation facility on March 22.

The first few days were tiresome since I was put on strong medications. Once I started regaining my strength I tried to get to know about the ‘angels’ who were taking care of me. They were always around, wrapped in body suits, day and night, to ensure that we are well taken care of. And people outside have no idea about the things they go through. Everyone has been busy complaining about how hard it was to spend 21days at home, but they are not aware about the fact that many of these healthcare workers have not been able to be with their family as well.

When Covid-19 struck the UK, my parents tried their best to get me back home. Authorities were imposing travel restrictions and I knew I had to reach India before March 18. I managed to book a flight to Chennai via Dubai on March

16. I had developed a sore throat by then. From Dubai airport I booked a flight to Kochi but by the time I reached Chennai, I had only half an hour left to catch the Kochi flight. The long line for immigration clearance made things even more horrible. I got clearance but unfortunately by the time I reached the gate, my flight had taken off. I was panicking, and my health had deteriorated completely.

But I was determined not to lose hope and booked a morning flight to Kochi. I was forced to spend 10 hours at the airport. There was panic in the eyes of everyone I saw there. And I had to make sure that I did not fall asleep in the airport or be near others as I was worried about getting infected with coronavirus. My body had given up on me, my head was pounding and I experienced a burning sensation on my head. Those 10 hours felt like 10 days. I somehow managed to kill time and it was time for me to board the next flight. Landing in Kochi made my heart pound for some reason and my eyes welled up. Finally, I was home.

While they were screening me for coronavirus at the airport, I made sure that I informed the authorities about my complete travel history and provided them with all my flight details. I was asked to selfquarantine for 14 days. Coming out of the airport I saw my dad waiting for me and I wanted to hug him, but I did not.

My dad had shifted my mom to our uncle’s house and he was fully prepared for the next 14 days of home quarantine. We were doing fine until I started getting chills and my temperature kept fluctuating. We informed Disha (the 24X7 helpline) and doctors about the situation and I was asked to go to the facility at Kalamassery. It has been a stressful week since. But now, I am feeling better and hope I will recover soon.

(The writer is a student who returned from the UK. Name withheld on request)

Corona nightmare giving children sleepless nights, anxious moments

Priyanka.Kakodkar@timesgroup.com

Mumbai  27.03.2020

: A few days after school closed, the nightmares began. Eight-year-old Jahnavi (name changed) would arrive at her parents’ bedroom at 3am, saying she was scared. “This went on for three days. Then she finally said she had been getting a stomach ache in the evenings and was scared she had contracted the coronavirus,” said her mother, who works in an advertising agency.

Last week, 12-year-old Advay (name changed) had a panic attack. “He suddenly said he couldn’t breathe. After he calmed down, he told us he was scared that we (his parents) would be killed by the coronavirus,” said his mother, who teaches in an international school.

With the pandemic shutting down schools and offices and news about its spread and impact being discussed non-stop in homes, the anxiety is leaving its mark on children. As parents discuss the death toll, panic about how to keep the disease at bay and whether their groceries are running out, children cannot escape its impact.

Long before schools closed down, Covid-19 was already on everyone’s radar. “I was scared to go to school. If someone sneezed on me, I thought I was going to get it,” said nine-year old Jahaan (name changed). He refused to go down to the building garden, much before the lockdown was declared.

The biggest change after the lockdown is social isolation: no school, hanging out with friends or playing downstairs. “Suddenly the whole normality has changed. Children don’t go to school and their parents, who may have been working, are at home all the time,” said Dr Alka Subramanyam, associate professor of psychiatry at BYL Nair Hospital.

Full report on www.toi.in

Day 2 of lockdown better across TN as people learn to stay indoors

Fewer People Found Out On Roads, Say Cops

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  27.03.2020

Day 2 of the 21-day lockdown saw better adherence to the rules across the state as fewer people stepped out of their houses on Thursday.

Police, on their part, intensified the crackdown on the curfew violators and booked hundreds of people who were found on roads.

In the first part of the day, people, mostly men, were out on the roads to buy essentials. But by afternoon, the number of vehicles on the roads thinned and customers in grocery stores dropped considerably.

The Madurai Central Market, which was closed due to overcrowding on Wednesday morning, was opened on Thursday morning. Once again, there was an influx of buyers and despite efforts by the authorities to convince people to maintain a safe social distance, they did not comply and the market was shut again.

To contain crowding in vegetable markets, the district authorities have now decided to restrict market operational hours to four hours. “This will help people realize that the shops will be open for four hours and they may not run out of stock. At the same time, we can prevent people venturing out throughout the day in the name of buying essentials,” said a corporation official.

In some places, people who stepped out to buy vegetables and essentials had to return empty-handed and some retail stores and farmers markets were found closed. “I have run out of some essentials. I couldn’t find any shops open since I went in the afternoon. I heard farmers markets were closed too. I have to try my luck tomorrow,” A Sakthi, a resident of K Pudur in Madurai said.

Like Madurai, several other places across the state too witnessed curfew in real sense on Thursday as there were fewer persons on road, fewer shops opened and people observed the mandatory social distance while waiting at shops. Police instructed the shops, where there were more people flouting the social distance norm, to be closed.

With the backlash coming from various quarters, police, however, stopped beating curfew violators as they did on Wednesday. Instead, they booked cases on several people. In Coimbatore, more than 100 cases were booked, while in Salem they booked 164 people. They were arrested and let off on bail. Salem city police commissioner T Senthil Kumar said it was mostly youth who violate the rules.

“We have issued them enough warnings. We will start acting tough against repeat offenders,” he said. A few youths caught by police roaming on roads were made to do 200 sit-ups.

HC extends interim orders till April 30

Move Due To Closure Of Courts

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:27.03.2020

Those facing eviction and those on bail or anticipatory bail due to interim orders of courts can breathe easy as the Madras high court has extended them relief till April 30 across the board. A division bench granted a blanket extension for its interim orders owing to closure of courts due to Covid-19 outbreak.

All orders of eviction, dispossession or demolition which have not been executed till date on the orders of the high court, district courts or the civil courts, shall remain in abeyance till April 30, unless vacated or modified earlier by any judicial order passed by the appropriate forum by which it was issued, said a division bench of Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice Abdul Quddhose on Thursday.

“All interim orders passed by the high court at Madras – principal bench that were subsisting as on March 20, may stand extended till April 30, unless vacated or modified earlier or until further orders of the court unless specifically dealt with by any judicial order to the contrary,” the bench said.

The order was passed in a suo motu plea initiated based on a letter of the Chief Justice AP Sahi dated March 26.

“Keeping in view the extraordinary situation which has arisen, it appears appropriate to undertake extraordinary remedies by issuing certain directions in order to ensure the smooth administration of justice and prevent any form of obstruction or miscarriage of justice,” the bench said.

Adding that all orders passed by the courts exercising criminal jurisdiction having granted bail, anticipatory bail or parole for a limited period which are likely to expire on or before April 30 shall stand extended till April 30, the court said that it is subject to any orders passed by the said forums even before the said expiry date or thereafter to enable the respective courts to deal with any abuse of the orders of the concerned party.

This apart, general encroachment drives, state revenue recovery measures, proceedings relating to demolition and eviction and other actions that are likely to give rise to an immediate litigation in the high court may be kept temporarily in abeyance subject to any measures for which advise may be sought from the advocate-general, the judges said.

The order has been passed in view of complete lockdown across the country.

People mistake stickers as mark of Covid cases

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 27.03.2020

Health workers of Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) have started pasting stickers outside houses and apartments of people who have been home-quarantined.

However, many people have started mistaking the stickers as an indication of Covid positive patients living in the homes. Such messages along with the photo of the sticker have started circulating in WhatsApp groups in the local area, adding to panic among residents.

For instance, one message read that one person had tested positive for corona in RA Puram and exhorted the WhatsApp group members to be careful. Similar messages of corona having reached T Nagar or Madipakkam were also doing the rounds. This led to panic, especially among senior citizens.

On Thursday, GCC, on its official twitter handle, reassured people that there was nothing to be scared of, as these were residents who had been home quarantined for 28 days after returning from a foreign country.

“Please do not spread such fake messages that would hurt them and their noble cause,” GCC said in tweets. To debunk such rumours, GCC has asked people to tweet their queries with the hashtag #GCCmythbusters.

People returning from foreign countries have been asked to home quarantine for 28 days. GCC started pasting stickers only from early this week and in some cases, they have backdated the date to match with the start of the patient’s home quarantine.

A reader pointed out that the stickers printed in Tamil had words which would scare people about corona positive patients staying there. GCC clarified that they would be replacing such stickers with new ones.

SIGN OF SAFETY: An official pasting a home-quarantine sticker outside a house in the cit

TAMIL NADU COVID-19 TRACKER

Nurses to advise pregnant women on hospital visits

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:27.03.2020

In the next two months, at least 1.5 lakh pregnant women in the state are expected to give birth. Nearly 11,000 women have been tagged as “high-risk” by doctors in the state registry Pregnancy and Infant Cohort Monitoring and Evaluation (PICME).

The state health department charted out a series of micro and macro level plans for these women. “All pregnant women will have calls and visits from our nurses. They will be advising them not to visit government hospitals or primary health centres in the morning,” said health secretary Beela Rajesh. Those visiting private hospitals will have to work with their doctors and ensure they don’t wait in crowded OPs. “All fever and Covid-19 out-patient clinics in government will close in the morning and space will be used for pregnant women in the afternoon. Scans will be scheduled for them in the afternoon,” she said.

Pharmacies will dispense medications for a month so they don’t have to return to the hospital just to pick up their pills, she said. Similar protocols will be followed by post-transplant patients.

Pregnant women visiting state-run antenatal clinics will now be categorised as red (high risk), yellow (moderate risk) and green (safe). Since a woman can continue to remain in green or move to yellow and red any time during the pregnancy, village and urban health nurses will keep a keen watch. All high risk cases will be monitored by a senior gynaecologist and delivery will be at a tertiary care centre. “Government will pick up women who go into labour in special vehicles or ambulances,” Beela said.

Only women tagged green will be allowed to deliver at primary health centres, where staff will be mentored by gynaecologists. Obstetricians-gynaecologists from sub-district, district and medical college hospitals will be allotted health blocks based on the geographic location of the hospital they are posted for the training. Each doctor will have a group of clinics and staff. All mothers will be seen by a doctor at least once.

“The plan is to continue monitoring the women and have access to case sheets of all pregnant women. We are putting everything on a dashboard to make monitoring easy,” Beela said.

With no bus, food, jobs, migrants make long march to village home

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  27.03.2020

A new humanitarian crisis may be unfolding in the country. Tens of thousands of desperate people, mainly migrant labour reduced to joblessness by the lockdown and with little or no money or food, have been streaming out of major cities for the past few days, attempting foot marches of hundreds of kilometres to reach their homes in India’s small towns and villages. Some were barefoot, and one had handkerchiefs wrapped around his feet and broken slippers stuffed into his pockets in the hope of repair.

These tides of men, and women and children, driven by the uncompromising arithmetic of survival and fear of contracting the novel coronavirus, pose a new challenge to the government’s all-out attempts to contain the spread of Covid-19.

“Some 26,000 people have reached Ratanpur, on the Gujarat-Rajasthan border, in the past two-three days. Our teams are listing them, they are being screened by medical teams. Those who have been advised quarantine are stamped and being transported to their villages on buses arranged by the administration,” Dungarpur collector Kanaram told TOI.

Migrant workers walk back to their villages in New Delhi on Thursday

‘A few organisations have arranged for food and water for migrating workers’

There were thousands leaving the Delhi National Capital Region, trudging down the Yamuna Expressway and the expressway to Meerut. Raj Kumar was one; he had set out for home with just 1,000 in hand. But home was Chhapra in Bihar, 1,050 km away. And he had a toddler in his arms while his wife walked beside him. He was hoping he could hitch a ride home.

Police checkposts on the outskirts of Jaipur, especially along the Jaipur-Agra, Jaipur-Sikar and Jaipur-Ajmer highways, are coming across people walking back to their villages; they had been asked by their families to return home. TOI visited the Jaipur-Agra highway near the Goner road and found many walking on the road, carrying bags and luggage. “My village is nearly 110 km from Jaipur. I have no option but to go back. The police stopped us at a few places but, when convinced that we had no other choice, they let us carry on,” said Kishan Mahawar a daily-wage labourer.

“On Wednesday night we have stopped a truck carrying vegetables and asked the driver to drop five workers to Kishangarh,” said Sultan Singh, a cop posted at Poorani Chungi. The scale of movement is so large that it frightened senior officers at the Jaipur police commissionerate when they were told by subordinates that hundreds of workers were walking towards Transport Nagar.

“A migration is on… We have spoken to many of them who are left without any money. Yesterday we helped some of them reach their villages,” said Jaipur commissioner Anand Srivastav. A few voluntary organisations have arranged for food and water for these migrating workers.

On the Gujarat-Rajasthan border, patwaris were preparing lists of the arriving population according to the areas to which they belong and medical teams have been working day and night screening them. Most of them do not have money and had not eaten properly, Kanaram, the collector, said.

Full report on www.toi.in

Final-year medicos may join virus war

Sushmi.Dey@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:27.03.2020

In urgent measures to ramp up medical capacity to tackle any sharp rise in Covid-19 cases, the government is considering facilitating fifth-year MBBS students and retired but practising doctors to help in managing patients if necessary.

The ministry and the Board of Governors in Supersession of Medical Council of India (BoG-MCI) is looking at senior medical students being given a provisional permit to practise and manage Covid-19 cases, sources said.

The suggestions include allowing specialist doctors in vital specialities like anaesthesiology, pulmonology, cardiology and radiology who are waiting to appear for the final exam with a “Board Eligible” degree so that they assist in medical management. They could be “Board Certified”. Estimates show there are around 50,000 such specialist doctors who can play a significant role in critical care management if the number of hospitalization cases of Covid-19 increases in coming weeks. The proposal also includes relaxing norms and giving temporary licence to those who have pursued medical education from foreign universities in Russia and China and are waiting to clear MCI’s eligibility test. Such doctors can be allowed to work in hospitals under senior doctors to tackle the current situation.

‘Rate of increase relatively stable’

Stressing on the need to maintain strict vigil during the lockdown, the government on Thursday said the rate of increase in Covid-19 positive cases has “relatively stabilised” in the last few days. The health ministry reported 88 new cases, taking the total to 694. Though the number of cases is increasing, there is a relatively stable trend in the rate of increase, health ministry joint secretary Lav Agarwal said.

Govt augmenting testing facilities and labs despite focus on isolation

Health minister Harsh Vardhan is understood to have asked NITI Aayog member V K Paul — who also heads the BoG-MCI — to review the proposal, sources in the ministry said.

The proposal is crucial as it has the potential to address the shortage of doctors, mainly specialists in the country. Such doctors along with nurses and paramedics are absolutely essential to tackle any community spread of the disease.

Though India’s strategy against Covid-19 is focused on breaking the chain of transmission, there are concerns over a rise in mortality and critical care infrastructure to tackle the menace.

The government and the BoG has already legalized telemedicine and issued guidelines for the same in order to make healthcare accessible in remote areas as well as decongest hospitals from other consultations.

Around 17 states have started working at dedicated Covid-19 hospitals. Besides, the government has also earmarked beds for isolation and treatment of Covid-19 patients in both public and private hospitals.

Despite a focus on isolation to break the chain of transmission, the government is simultaneously augmenting its testing facilities and laboratories.

Currently, there are 119 public laboratories under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) capable of conducting 12,000 Covid-19 tests every day.

Besides, the council has also approved 25 private labs with over 20,000 collection centres to test Covid-19 suspected patients across the country.

1-yr jail for Sec 144 breach in TN, goods may reach homes

₹1,000 Dole To PDS Households From April 2

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:27.03.2020

The state is doing everything to ensure that people are not denied essentials during the nationwide lockdown, a top government official has said.

After a videoconference lasting nearly four hours with district collectors on Thursday, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami instructed them to ensure that from April 2 government staff hand over ₹1,000 to each rice cardholder at their doorstep, the official told TOI. Grocery shops and cooperative stores will also door-deliver essentials, he said.

“CM has directed the collectors to provide cash assistance at the doorstep. Some said they could deliver PDS goods for the month of April too at people’s homes and they were told to do so. If it is not possible, a token system should be followed with due precaution on social distancing without allowing crowding. If necessary, they should take police help. The PDS relief will be provided from April 2,” the official said.

The government also warned private banks, small financial institutions and self-help groups of legal action if they don’t suspend, until further orders, the daily/weekly/monthly collection of interest and principal towards loan dues.

The state invoked provisions of the Disaster Management Act superseding its previous notification under the Epidemic Act, and issued a notification for the on-going 21-day lockdown called by the Centre. As per the DM Act, anyone refusing to comply with any government direction will get a jail term of one year or fine, or both.

Firefighters spray disinfectant over a TNHB quarters in Chennai

9 panels to ensure nonstop supply of essential commodities

If refusal to comply with directions leads to loss of life, violators can get two-year jail term. Sources say the state may still include additional regulations, if any, under Epidemic Act.

A government release said the government provided officials with the names of 54,000 people who arrived from foreign countries and ensure they remained in quarantine for active monitoring. Since those in contact with Covid-19 patients are under isolation and prohibited from coming out, district collectors were told to ensure supply of essentials with adequate protection. Those who violate orders will be fined and criminal action initiated against them.

District administrators have swung into action by putting out on social media the names and numbers of shops that can door deliver essentials. Dindigul collector M Vijayalakshmi said vegetable markets in four places, including Palani Road truck terminal, will function from Friday. Tuticorin and Tirunelveli administrations made similar arrangements. In Tirunelveli, orders can be placed from selective shops between 9am and 4pm on payment of ₹25 towards delivery.

Earlier, the chief minister ordered setting up of nine committees led by senior bureaucrats to ensure uninterrupted supply of essentials and resolve disruptions. District administration officials should disinfect periodically densely populated slum clearance board tenements, religious places, markets and large streets. Adequate awareness should be created about the infectious disease through loud speakers and by issuing pamphlets. Senior citizens, sick, pregnant women and isolated families, those who wish to do dialysis can reach helpline 108 for any emergency. The 108 ambulance service will work in tandem.

(With inputs from Padmini Sivarajah)

Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami holds a review meeting with district collectors via video conferencing on the preventive measures taken against the spread of coronavirus. Deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam, ministers C Vijayabaskar, RB Udayakumar, chief secretary K Shanmugam, director general of police JK Tripathy were among those present

370 stranded passengers in Trichy airlifted to Malaysia

TNN | Mar 26, 2020, 04.29 AM IST

TRICHY: Around 370 passengers, who had been stranded in Trichy following the cancellation of international flights from India in the wake of Covid-19 outbreak, were airlifted by two special rescue flights to Kuala Lumpur early on Wednesday. Earlier, as many as 186 stranded Malaysian passengers were flown to Kuala Lumpur on a special flight on Saturday.

A group of Malaysian tourists arrived at Tamil Nadu two weeks ago and had planned to return to Kuala Lumpur on March 18 via Trichy international airport. On arrival, they were told that all flights to Kuala Lumpur have been cancelled.

On information, an official from the Malaysian consulate in Chennai arrived at Trichy airport on March 18 and assured them to do the needful to send them back safely after arranging a special flight

Air Asia operated two rescue flights from Trichy to Kuala Lumpur to ferry the stranded Malaysian nationals on Tuesday night.

Mobile vegetable shops a boon for villages in districts

TNN | Mar 27, 2020, 04.42 AM IST

Trichy: M Mohamed Saleem, 46, who has been selling vegetables at the weekly markets in Trichy, has converted his mini truck into a mobile vegetable shop to cater to the needs of villages around Trichy and Pudukottai.

He says people in the city can take their motorcycles to the neighbourhoods to purchase vegetables from markets. But for many villagers, cities have become inaccessible in the absence of public transport.

Mohamed along with his wife purchases vegetables from Gandhi market and sell them in a few villages on the outskirts.

Mohamed is not alone in the business, there are many in the area who are running such mobile vegetable shops. “Villages do not have access to markets now,” said M Rajesh from Mullupatti near Avur. Such mobile vegetables shops are of good help, he said.

S Ramalingam, 45, owner of another mobile vegetable shop, said that they have been spreading awareness on Covid-19. “We will try to keep the price low, but the state government must ensure that supply of vegetables to markets is not affected, which may lead to price hike,” he said.

“Many villages are hesitant to venture out of their house fearing police action. Such mobile shops, in a way have reduced the number of people outdoors,” said T Ramakishanan from Thiruverumbur.

Ministers in Salem zero in on home districts

TNN | Mar 26, 2020, 04.01 AM IST

SALEM: Ministers from Salem region on Wednesday chaired a meeting with their home district administrations to take stock of preparedness to fight Covid-19 outbreak.

Talking to the media, School education minister K A Sengottaiyan said Erode district administration has made all the arrangements contain the pandemic. “The two Covid-19 positive patients are being provided treatment and four of their close contacts are being monitored , despite them being tested negative for the virus.”

Pointing out that 1,118 people from 295 families had come into contact with the Covid-19 patients, the minister said all of them were under home quarantine and being monitored by health officials thrice a day.He said the district was prepared to handle 363 Covid-19 patients at a time in its government and private hospitals.

Electricity minister Thangamani said the state government had allotted Rs 2.5 crore for Namakkal district to fight Covid-19. “The district administration had identified 293 people who have returned from abroad. Of them, 230 are under quarantine, while the remaining have completed the same.”

Higher education minister K P Anbalagan said in Dharmapuri 69 people had returned from abroad. “Of them, 19 were in China. A total 47 people are still under quarantine. The district GH has the facility to handle 370 Covid-19 patients,” he said.

It was a complete disregard for law in Salem region

TNN | Mar 26, 2020, 04.59 AM IST

SALEM: In a complete disregard for the state government’s efforts to contain Covid-19 outbreak by imposing Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, people in Salem region on Wednesday took to streets in large numbers as usual.

While Salem city police booked 10 motorists for violating Section 144 and registered another 1500 cases of traffic violation, a total of 54 people were arrested across Namakkal district for violating Section 144. Namakkal superintendent of police R Arularasu said people had gathered in large groups in various places of the district.

Talking to TOI, Salem city police commissioner T Senthil Kumar said strict action would be taken against the people who violate CrPC section in the coming days. “Since it was the first day of curfew, we warned the public, especially motorists, when they came out on roads. Ten of them were booked under Sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Indian Penal Code.”

He said many motorists had taken to the streets for jolly rides while the entire nation was fighting Covid-19 outbreak. “I have directed police personnel to check medical prescriptions and identity cards of road users. Those who fail to produce relevant documents will have to face the law.”

Meanwhile, district collector S A Raman ordered closure of all kinds of tea shops and bakeries from 6pm on Wednesday. He also warned them of strict criminal action, if they were to remain open.

In a few places, including Sathyamangalam in Erode district and Salem city, police personnel resorted to lathi-charge to send out a strong message to the motorists

A senior district administration official in Erode said bikers, especially college students, were coming out of their houses without any valid reasons.

Only 4 relatives attend burial of TN’s first Covid-19 victim

TNN | Mar 26, 2020, 04.04 AM IST

Madurai: The body of the 54-year-old man from Anna Nagar in Madurai city, who died on Wednesday night while undergoing treatment for Covid-19, was laid to rest at a burial ground in Melamadai early in the morning.

His wife, son and two brothers were the only relatives around when the body was taken to the grave.

It was around 2 am that health minister C Vijayabaskar declared the man, who was admitted to the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH), dead. He said the patient had a medical history of prolonged illness with steroid-dependent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and uncontrolled diabetes with hypertension.

The body was shifted directly to the burial ground from GRH around 3.30 am after the authorities completed the hospital procedures. The body was alighted from the hearse van and kept at the ground for an hour until the work of digging the pit was complete.

Other than the family members, a police team from Madhichiyam station which accompanied the body, was also present. There was no medical team or sanitation officers during the burial, which was completed by 5 am.

Meanwhile, the district administration locked down all the ways leading to the street where he was hailing from using barricades fastened with ropes. All the people from 60 houses on the street have been kept under watch. In addition, one street on either side of the particular street has also been locked down. Barricades have been erected at least at eight places to make sure that no one leaves the place or an outsider goes in, police sources said.

Only the residents are allowed to enter, that too after showing proof of residency in the street. One member from the family is allowed to purchase essential articles like milk and groceries from stores available there itself.

Man, 24, in isolation camp ‘escapes’ to meet girlfriend, brought back by cops

TNN | Mar 27, 2020, 04.08 AM IST

Madurai: A 24-year-old Dubai returnee, who was sent for isolation at the Chinna Udaippu camp near the Madurai airport, escaped from there to be with his girlfriend on Wednesday night . However, cops traced him to a village near Sivaganga and brought him back . A case was registered against the youth, said police.

The man was identified as Vijay, 24, from Keelapoongudi village in Sivaganga district. He reached Madurai airport via Delhi airport recently and was found to have symptoms consistent with Covid-19. He was isolated in the camp along with eight others, police said.

As he was found missing, health officials went into panic mode on Wednesday evening. Based on a complaint from the health officials, the Avaniyapuram police traced him using his mobile number to a village near Sivaganga.

Inquiries revealed that he had gone to meet his girlfriend. As the girl’s family were against their relationship, she escaped from her house and the two met at a place. Just when they were planning to get married at a temple, the police picked him up and the girl was sent back to her family, police said.

After the incident, the kidnap complaint filed by the girl’s family was withdrawn. Police sources said that health officials from Sivaganga district have asked the family members to keep the girl in isolation for a few days.

12 held, vehicles impounded for violating curfew orders

TNN | Mar 27, 2020, 04.25 AM IST

Madurai: The city police have arrested 12 people for roaming in the city by violating the curfew orders clamped down by the district administration to prevent the spread of Covid-19. They were arrested under sections 188 of the IPC (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 270 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and under Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897. Police also booked 364 vehicle owners and impounded 297 vehicles for violations. A total of Rs 1.22 lakh as fine was levied under Section 179 of the Motor Vehicle Act (Disobedience of orders, obstruction and refusal of information.

S Karumugilan, 37, from Nataraj Nagar was arrested for violating the curfew. He had circulated a message in WhatsApp portraying the police in bad light. He also criticized curfew measures. Police sources said the message, which was sent to many, was encouraging people to come out on the streets.

Police also arrested two more people identified as G Eswarapandian,19, from Ellis Nagar and P Vijayanagendran, 40, from Tahsildar Nagar for wandering unnecessarily at Bypass Road-Kennet Road junction and Mahaboobpalayam respectively on Wednesday. Police tightened control in order to bring down the movement of vehicles as a precautionary measure. Petty cases were registered against those who violated curfew .

They closed all major roads and bridges in the city using barricades and everyone was questioned. Only those who gave convincing replies were allowed to cross the barricades. Even government vehicles were not spared as they were stopped to check whether they were used for official purpose. Deputy commissioner of police (traffic) K Sugumar said that instructions were given to book jolly rides under petty sections. Vehicles of those who involved in repeated offences were impounded in order to send a strong message. While vehicles leaving the city were left without any questioning, only essential vehicles were allowed inside the city.

Select shops to deliver groceries at doorstep

TNN | Mar 27, 2020, 04.56 AM IST

Madurai: The best thing that the district administrations can do to prevent people from crowding in shops is to ensure door delivery of goods, and they are taking steps to ensure the same.

A shopkeeper at Anna Nagar in Madurai said that they were finding it difficult to supply goods owing to the panic buying, as people used to buy essential commodities in large quantities. Now, the corporation has enlisted shops, which could deliver goods, and also roped in volunteers to deliver goods.

Sugumar of K K Nagar said that he thought of doing something useful for the society in the crisis and approached shops to deliver goods. It is only if they have an ID and a local address. This was made mandatory because only people having ID’s given by the corporation authorities could deliver goods. Kumar, a shopkeeper, says that they may approach more volunteers if the situation demands.

A few customers are asking for bulk orders for apartments, and in that case auto rickshaws are being roped in for home delivery. The customer would have to pay the auto charge in addition to the price of the goods. All these operations are expected to begin on Friday, according to corporation sources. But, all delivery personnel will have to wear masks and gloves. Vehicles used for delivery would have to be disinfected.

Dindigul district collector M Vijayalakshmi has said that four markets would be set up at Palani Road Lorry Terminal, Mettupati ground, Nagal Nagar Bharathipuram Market and SMPM School near the Round Road for the convenience of people. These markets would start functioning from March 27. People from villages can also make use of these markets.

The district administration has also put out a list of whatsapp numbers, which will help public get their grocery delivered at their doorsteps to ensure that they did not crowd in the shops. Shops have been identified to be common for many wards of the Dindigul Corporation. For example the Kannan Departmental Store with the whatsapp number 8489943093, could be useful to the people living in ward numbers 1 to 5, 36 to 40, villages under Settiyanayakkampatti panchayat and N S Nagar.

Such arrangements have been made for all the 48 wards in the Dindigul Corporation. She has said that all the vehicles to be used for home delivery would be disinfected and the delivery personnel equipped with protective gear.

Tuticorin and Tirunelveli district administrations have also made similar arrangements. In Tirunelveli, people can order from Pothy’s Super Market, Big Bazaar and Reliance Shop, between 9am and 4pm. Rs 25 would be added as delivery charge to each delivery, Tirunelveli corporation has said.

Docs take up consultation via social media, ensure social distancing

TNN | Mar 27, 2020, 04.55 AM IST

Madurai: Doctors are finding ways to communicate with their patients using technology and social media during this period of social distancing, thereby ensuring that people are not unwontedly exposed to harm. They are monitoring patients, following up and also calming them down through video calls and chats.

Geriatrician Dr N Raja has started consulting his patients through video on WhatsApp. “I shut my clinic for consultation four days back after the Prime Minister ordered the country to go into lockdown. Soon after, I started anxious calls from my patients,” he said.

One of his patients who is undergoing treatment for rheumatoid arthritis wanted to know if it was safe to continue with his medication as he had read that it has side effects. “This is because the patient was overloaded with information on quinone, a name that has been making rounds since the (Covid-19) crisis started,” he said.

Another patients of his had read that the drugs he was taking for hypertension could make him susceptible to the deadly virus. “This is when I ask them to come on a video call and reassure them to take the drug for another month,” he said, adding that he and many other private practitioners do not want to expose patients to any unwanted infection, and hence suggested those on long term medication to continue for another month.

Gynaecologist Dr Revathy Janakiram said she was using social media to provide free consultation to keep them comfortable. “I have a staff nurse and an office assistant in my clinic in case there is an emergency delivery, otherwise I speak to them over WhatsApp, prescribe necessary medicines and follow up after six hours to know how they are doing,” she said. For now, her relief is that most of the deliveries of her patients are scheduled for the first week of April.

K M G Vivekanandham, 66, a patient, said consulting over the phone was a relief. “Being connected with your doctor at times like this is a boon as telephone consulting is the only solution here,” he said.

Dr Raja adds, “Most of my patients have ailments like diabetes and hypertension and many are equipped with devices to know their blood sugar levels and pressure. Hence, counselling them to continue with medication is not a problem. It is only people who do not have monitors that is a matter of concern.” Many private practitioners are also working round-the-clock, like the counterparts in government service, over the phone. “We cannot afford to ignore the calls, so have to answer them,” the doctors said.

HC asks TN to consider plea on creating posts in med college hosps

TNN | Mar 27, 2020, 04.56 AM IST

Madurai: Madras high court has directed the state government to consider a representation on a plea moved by seven people to finalize the proposal regarding creation of emergency care technician posts’ in government medical college hospitals in the state.

The petitioners have completed certificate course for the post of emergency care technicians from 2005 onwards. According to the petitioners, they are well trained in handling both surgical and medical emergencies such as handling high-end mechanical ventilators, dialysis machine, multipara monitor, ECG, nebulization machine, plasmapheresis. The petitioners are continuously requesting the state government to create such posts as it would create employment opportunity to people like them.

Based on the request of the petitioners, the secretary to the government of health and family welfare department in his proceedings on January 30, 2019 had forwarded a proposal to the director of medical education to ascertain the need for creation of such posts in all medical colleges.

In response to the same, the director of medical education has issued a proceedings seeking for a proposal regarding creation of such posts.

Though the petitioners have sent a representation to the authorities seeking to finalize the proposal for creation of the posts, no steps were taken. Hence, the petitioners moved the high court Madurai bench.

Hearing the plea, justice J Nisha Banu observed that by considering the limited prayer sought for in this petition, the state government is directed to dispose of the representation submitted by the petitioners by taking note of the proceedings of the director of medical education.

Covid-19 in Tamil Nadu: Governor, leaders urge people to follow complete lockdown

Mar 25, 2020, 02.47 PM IST

CHENNAI: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced nationwide lockdown for 21 days starting at midnight on Tuesday, Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit and various political party leaders asked people to stay at their homes.

People who have been instructed to undergo home quarantine must follow it scrupulously. People should not put their lives and those of their near and dear ones in danger. People should keep social distancing, but at the same time should not panic, said Purohit in a statement.

The governor said all essential commodities would be provided by the state government. Noting that it was a challenging situation, he said spread of Covid-19 could be checked only if people stayed at home and broke the chain.

The state government was taking all efforts to control the spread of the virus. It was also doing everything possible to support vulnerable sections of society, he said and added, “I appreciate the state government for taking many proactive steps. I have full trust in the people of Tamil Nadu, let's fight this challenge together”.

DMK president M K Stalin, in a Facebook post, welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement. “I welcome the lockdown for 21 days announced by the Prime Minister. Let us ourselves follow social distancing to prevent the virus from spreading further,” said Stalin.

He said there was no other way to escape from the infection. By fully cooperating with the lockdown, each individual would be safeguarding himself as well as the country, said Stalin.

PMK founder S Ramadoss asked housewives to take charge and implement complete lockdown. No one should be allowed to venture out of their homes, he said. VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan also urged people to stay indoors.

Treat your pets like family during lockdown, say experts

TNN | Mar 26, 2020, 12.00 AM IST

Pet parents in Tamil Nadu are in a fix. With misinformation doing the rounds that pet animals can spread COVID-19, animal lovers are perturbed. Adding fuel to the fire was the report that two dogs had tested positive for Coronavirus in Hong Kong. In India, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in Maharashtra and other civic bodies had put up hoardings asking people to stay away from pets as a precautionary measure. All this led to people abandoning their furry friends. Though health officials have stated that there is no evidence of animal to human transmission of the virus, it seems some people are not in a mood to listen.

Humane Animal Society, an animal welfare organisation in Coimbatore, has been flooded with calls asking them to take their pets in the shelter. “We have got a number of calls, but we are trying to educate people that the disease doesn’t spread from animals. This is the time for social distancing from people not animals,” says Mini Vasudevan, founder of the organisation.

Michael Abraham of CSK Pet Point, Mylapore, in Chennai, says that he, too, received calls from people asking him to help find a shelter for their pets. “These are people who are going back to their home town from Chennai following the lockdown,” he says.

Animal lovers bear the brunt

“My owner has asked me to move out of the house,” laments Anusha R (name changed), who recently moved to Delhi from Coimbatore. “The only reason being that I have a dog. I tried to explain to her that dogs cannot spread the virus, but in vain.” R Kannan from Gomathipuram in Madurai, on the other hand, has been missing his morning jog with his dog, Veenu. “It’s tough to keep her inside the house. She looks dull. We both need a break.”

There’s good news, too

However, Reshmi Anil Giri, a resident of Prince Highlands, Iyyappanthangal, says that she is glad her gated community is understanding of pets. “Before moving here, the first thing I checked was whether they allowed pets or not. The residents in the apartment are friendly with pets, but I stopped taking her out, to be on the safer side,” she says.

Pets don’t spread Coronavirus

Ask Dr Chinny Krishna, co-founder of Blue Cross of India, about the concerns among pet owners and he says, “Organisations like The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) have sent notifications saying that pets don’t spread Coronavirus."

There is no cross-transmission, says another veterinarian. “Only Section 144 has been imposed. You can take your dog out and go for a walk. Just ensure that you take all the precautionary measures while you do that,” he adds.

Dr G Venu Gobal, veterinary surgeon at JSR pet multi-speciality hospital, Coimbatore, says that pet owners need not panic. “All you need to do for the next 10-15 days is to restrict the movement of dogs outside the house. If you step out, you will be at risk of contracting the virus. It’s advisable to avoid food from outside as well and instead, feed them homemade food.”

No clarity on whether pet shops should be open or not

Pet store owner Michael Abraham feels that pet shops should be open during lockdown. “If pet shops are closed, many animals will suffer. My shop is located in Mylapore and I have regular customers, who buy food for stray dogs during their morning walk and feed them. This will completely stop and the dogs would go hungry,” he says.

Agreeing with him is another pet store owner in Anna Nagar. “We still have no clarity on whether the shops should be open or not. We have to get clarity from the Pet Shops Association. We have birds and small animals inside the store and we are really worried about them,” he says.

When quizzed if there has been an increase in sales after the announcement of lockdown, Michael says, “We received many calls for kitten food. As far as dogs are concerned, you need not worry as you can feed them most of the human food.”

Ensure to take precautionary measures, say experts

Dr Chinny Krishna asks pet lovers to take precautionary measures. “Wash the paws of dogs after you come back home from their walk. Social distancing is applicable to pets as well. Ensure that they do not come in close contact with other animals or people when taken outside.” Mini Vasudevan adds, “This is the time to be there for the animals. All you need to do is practise basic hygiene and not allow them near an unknown person.”

Advisory from Animal Welfare Board of India

A large number of pet shops or animal breeding facility where animals and birds are kept for sale are now shut down due to lockdown/curfew. The animals stranded in such places are likely to suffer and die without food, water and temperature control. All such pet shops are to be evacuated by the State Animal Welfare Boards through SPCAs (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals). It is requested to kindly issue necessary directions to all district authorities to check the pet shops in the locality for searching of animals, if any and evacuate them.

Coronavirus fallout: Tamil Nadu students want Neet put off to June

TNN | Mar 26, 2020, 07.07 AM IST

The crisis triggered by Covid-19 has hit preparations for National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test, scheduled for May 3, with students and teachers saying the Centre should put off the test till at least June. Many coaching institutes had even planned to start a crash course from Wednesday.

Catherine Cressey, a Class XII student from city, said if Neet was held as per schedule, state board students would find it very difficult. "We have just finished our board exams. This is a crucial period and we are not able to interact with the trainers," she said.

"We are not able to clarify doubts with teachers. Compared to pen and paper mode test, we could not take online test that serious as there was no time limit," said M S Cyrus, a state board student from Tambaram. He said they needed at least one and half months for.

While T Manmadhan, who attended government-sponsored coaching classes at Government Higher Secondary School in MGR Nagar, wanted Neet postponed to either June or July, Nisha Rajendran, who also attended coaching classes, said all the news about the corona virus crisis was disturbing and putting off the test would help students prepare with a relaxed mindset and improve their performance.

Some principals said if exams were held as scheduled, students of CBSE and other boards would be at an advantage as Neet is based on NCERT syllabus and they don't need special coaching. "Our students [those following state board]would start intense preparation only after board exams," said N Vijayan, senior principal, Zion Group of Schools.

Tamil Nadu: Stay home or 1 lakh could be in hospital

TNN | Mar 26, 2020, 04.07 AM IST

CHENNAI: We will have to pay a heavy price for violating the Covid curfew. A mathematical model has predicted that up to 60,000 people may land up in hospitals across Tamil Nadu when the disease peaks in May and that is the best case scenario, say officials in the state Covid-19 control room. In the worst case, the number may touch one lakh.

The numbers are approximate, based on the model prepared by the Centre For Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy (CDDEP) in association with the Johns Hopkins. “They have estimated the scenarios for Kerala, Karnataka, UP, Telangana and Delhi. We are using a rough calculation and taking a number between Telangana and Maharashtra,” said a senior health official.

On Wednesday, Telangana, which has a population of 39.64 million, recorded 39 cases, while Maharashtra, with a population of 126 million, had 107. TN, with 81.5 million people, had 18 covid-19 positive cases. The analysis showed that India might end up with 13 crore to 25 crore Covid-19 infections – symptomatic, asymptomatic and hospitalization -- and between 12 lakh and 25 lakh people may require hospitalisation. “We have asked them for an exclusive report for Tamil Nadu,” said health secretary Beela Rajesh. Other recommendations in the report will stay valid, officials said. The report says most infected cases will be mild. Infections will peak between April and May, when the most number of people will be hospitalised.

Government and private hospitals have been asked to increase bed strength, and district collectors and civic bodies to identify buildings that can be used for isolation and quarantine. Hospitals have been asked to drastically cut patient service and elective surgeries.

The CDDEP guidance report on COVID-19 in India is based on evidence from the India SIM Model – an agent-based model of the Indian population. Scientists fitted the model to available data from China and Italy under three scenarios –high, moderate and low infection.

National containment, it says, may no longer be an option for India, as community transmission of the virus most likely started in early March. “However, state or local (temporary) containment and mitigation is the best option,” it said. Tamil Nadu has found contacts of people who have travelled abroad being infected. Health minister C Vijayabaskar says they are doing their best to stop community transmission of the disease. Experts point out that social distancing can reduce this peak load by as much as 75% although this may be hard to enforce in India, the study points out.

Encouraging early testing, it says people should follow social distancing more seriously. Director of public health Dr K Kolandasamy said disinfecting surfaces and hand hygiene should be practised along with social distancing. “This will have more impact than lockdowns,” he said.

There is also hope that increase in temperature and humidity should help us in reducing case load, although the report warns there could be multiple peaks on the graph.