U.P. to seal virus hotspots in 15 districts

Officials asked to ensure 100% home delivery; shops and vegetable markets not to be allowed to open

09/04/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,LUCKNOW

Flag march: Police personnel in Lucknow asked people not to crowd outside. Special arrangementSpecial arrangement

The Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday decided to completely seal COVID-19 hotspots within 15 districts till the end of the lockdown on April 14. The announcement, first made orally by a senior official, triggered panic buying among anxious public who stepped out to the markets in big numbers as confusion prevailed over which areas would come under the purview of the total lockdown. Several hours after the government decision, officials were yet to declare the names of the hotspots in many districts.

The government listed 100 such hotspots spread across 15 districts, including Lucknow, Noida, Ghaziabad, Agra, Varanasi and Meerut. The actual names were still trickling in till late on Wednesday evening. The district-wise hotspots to be sealed stood as — Agra (22 hotspots), Ghaziabad (13), Noida (12), Kanpur (12), Shamli (3), Meerut (7) including some rural areas, Varanasi (4), Bareilly (1), Bulandshahr (3), Basti (3), Firozabad (3), Saharanpur (4), Maharajganj (4), Lucknow (12) including 8 major ones, and Sitapur (1).

The “affected areas” in these 15 districts, which have reported six or more positive cases, should be “completely sealed” to make the lockdown secure, the State’s top official Rajendra Kumar Tiwari said in instructions to District Police and administrative heads.

Mr. Tiwari instructed officials to review the movement passes issued in these districts and cancel those that were “unnecessary”.

Officials were asked to ensure 100% home delivery in affected areas. Shops and vegetable mandis would also not be allowed to open, so there is strict implementation of lockdown and social distancing, the Chief Secretary said.

The complete lockdown system was first implemented in some areas of Agra and it produced “good results”, said Awanish Awasthi, Additional Chief Secretary-Home Department, explaining the rationale behind the decision.

Confusion among the public started after Mr. Tiwari told media that affected areas in 15 districts would be sealed to prevent community spread but did not elaborate which areas would be included. Many television channels initially reported that the entire 15 districts, and not just the hotspots identified, would be completely sealed.

Mr. Awasthi, then in the official government briefing, clarified that the total lockdown would be enforced in only the hotspots.

However, by the time his statement arrived, people had already started queuing up outside shops, ration stores and medical stores to purchase essential items. Panic buying was reported even from areas which did not feature among the list of hotspots as the government did not announce the names.

Many people who stepped out to buy grocery and other items, expressed concerns over the uncertainty of how things would shape up on Thursday. Some wondered how the government would execute doorstep delivery of food and medicine in dense localities.

“How do we know they will allow us to purchase even food items or medicines from tomorrow,” asked a local in Latouche Road, parts of which comes under the eight hotspots in the U.P. capital.

Mujahid, a baker, said he found it hard to handle the sudden rush of customers. He wondered how the supply chain would operate in the areas sealed by police.

CITU flags wage cuts, job loss in IT field

09/04/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) on Wednesday wrote to the Union Labour and Employment Ministry highlighting cases of wage cuts and job terminations in the IT sector, in violation of the Ministry’s directive to companies during the lockdown.

In the letter to the Secretary, CITU general secretary Tapan Sen said this was its fifth such communication to it regarding the violations of the March 20 advisory to employers. After highlighting violations in banks, jute mills and tea gardens in West Bengal and road and hydel projects in J&K, the CITU said this time it was raising concerns in the IT sector in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Bengal. It asked the Ministry to intervene in the matter as well.

Ambedkar birthday will be a holiday

09/04/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, NEW DELHI

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Wednesday declared April 14, 2020, birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, a “closed holiday” for all Central government offices, including industrial establishments, throughout India.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on Tuesday extended the tenures of officials working at the level of deputy secretary, director and joint secretary, appointed under the Central Staffing Scheme or through the Civil Services Board procedure.

The extension has been given till June 30 or until further orders.

The decision is learnt to have been taken to ensure smooth implementation of anti-COVID-19 measures.

Newborn taken away after mother tests positive

Woman’s kin attended Delhi event

09/04/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,THANJAVUR

A mother was separated from her newborn child at the Rajah Mirasdar Government Hospital after she tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday.

The 32-year-old woman from Sundaram Nagar, Thanjavur, developed COVID-19 symptoms last weekend, while officials screened her and her family members, after her 55-year-old father-in-law tested positive for the viral infection, upon returning after attending the Tablighi Jamaat conference in New Delhi.

The woman, kept under observation at the RMGH, gave birth to a boy on Monday. The swab taken from her was sent for test and the result came back positive on Tuesday. Subsequently, the infant was separated from the mother and kept in a separate room.

The woman’s father-in-law continues to be under observation at the Thanjavur Medical College hospital, said sources.

OMCs sell 13 lakh more LPG refills than in March 2019

09/04/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

The oil companies usually supply around 1.05 crore refills in the State every month. B. Velankanni RajB_VELANKANNI RAJ

Oil marketing companies sold nearly 13 lakh additional cylinders in the State last month when compared to March 2019.

Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., which holds the biggest share in the market, sold eight lakh more cylinders than last March’s 60 lakh.

Hindustan Peteoleum Corporation Ltd., and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd., which have the remaining market share sold an additional five lakh cylinders. The oil companies usually supply around 1.05 crore refills in the State every month.

“We managed this despite shortage of staff during the Covid-19 lockdown thanks to a large number of contract labourers, delivery staff and gas agency employees who agreed to work. This would be close to 80,000 persons,” said an oil industry source.

Mango sales take a hit

Lower arrivals in Koyambedu have dampened offtake

09/04/2020, K.LAKSHMI, SUNITHA SEKAR,CHENNAI

Koyambedu wholesale market is receiving only 5-6 varieties of mangoes instead of the usual 10-12. M. VedhanM_VEDHAN

Summer is often synonymous with mangoes for many. However, this year, the countrywide lockdown has dampened the arrival of mangoes to the city this season.

The Koyambedu wholesale market is receiving only 5-6 varieties of mangoes instead of the usual 10-12 varieties available during this time. Wholesale traders noted that the market was getting stock from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and not from Kerala. Only half of the usual daily quantity of 100 tonnes is being received now due to restrictions in transportation.

S. Srinivasan, president, Chennai fruits commission agents association said that fewer arrivals have not led to much demand and prices have slashed by 10% in the wholesale market. Some of the varieties available are Banganapalli, Peethar, Senthoora and Imanpasand.Banganapalli mangoes are sold for up to ₹100 a kg in the wholesale market.

“We are making only 30% of the usual sales due to less customers. Several other fruits are also priced lesser than usual. For instance, watermelons cost ₹6/kg instead of the usual ₹15. As most juice shops are closed in the city, the demand for fruits, including musk melons, have dropped,” he said.

Traders said that the timing of retail shops must be extended by an hour to reduce crowding in the wholesale market.

R. Narasimhan, a 60-year-old from Anna Nagar, is one of the residents eagerly waiting to buy mangoes. “It is one fruit that every family member loves. I haven't been able to spot mangoes in the stores yet. I hope this lockdown doesn't have an impact on it," he said.

While some retail shops have been selling mangoes, there are some who haven't begun as yet. The price of Alphonso and Banganapalli is around ₹300/kg and ₹180/kg respectively. A manager of a popular fruits and vegetable retail chain in Arumbakkam said, “We found that some mangoes were either too sour or tasteless. We will wait for sometime, till mid or late April for bulk purchase.” .

Retailers expect usual sale of mangoes this year too.

Citizens must act responsibly with medical teams, says SC

Court orders police to take action against offenders

09/04/2020, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

Citizens have to act in a responsible manner with doctors, medical workers and other officials working to contain the COVID-19 infection, the Supreme Court said on Wednesday.

The court ordered the police to take action against persons who obstruct and commit any offence against doctors, medical staff and other officials in the course of performing their duty.

In a 15-page order, a Bench led by Justice Ashok Bhushan directed the police and authorities to provide protection to medical teams when they visit screening sites or at all places where patients diagnosed positive or who have been quarantined are housed.

Calling COVID-19 a “national calamity”, the court said “in wake of calamity of such nature, all citizens of the country have to act in a responsible manner to extend a helping hand to the government and medical staff to perform their duties to contain and combat COVID-19”.

The court referred to how doctors, who had gone to screen residents in Indore on April 2, were pelted with stones. The order mentioned another such incident in Ghaziabad and in other parts of the country too.

Terming doctors and health workers as “corona warriors”, a Bench led by justice Ashok Bhushan said such attacks “instil a sense of insecurity in doctors and medical staff from whom it is expected by society that they are looking to the call of their duties will protect the citizenry from disease of COVID-19”.

The court directed the government to explore alternatives, including enabling and augmenting domestic production of protective clothing and gear for medical professional. This include alternative modes of production of such clothing (masks, suits, caps, gloves, etc.) and permitting movement of raw material. The government may also restrict export of such materials to augment inventory and domestic stock.

The court made it clear that the onus is on the Centre and the States to ensure availability of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment, including sterile medical/Nitrile gloves.

Karnataka moots salary cuts for Ministers, MLAs

Cabinet to discuss lockdown measures

09/04/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,BENGALURU

B.S. Yediyurappa

Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has called a meeting of the Cabinet at 11 a.m. on Thursday and it is expected to take a decision on slashing monthly salaries and allowances — around 30% — of MLAs, MLCs, and Ministers.

Reliable sources said Mr. Yediyurappa had held a telephonic conversation with Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah who has reportedly endorsed the suggestion.

The Union Cabinet has decided to reduce the salaries of MPs by 30% and has suspended MPLAD funds for two years to mobilise more funds to fight the COVID-19.

The Cabinet is expected to discuss methods to be adopted in case of extension of the lockdown in hotspot districts and its impact on the finances.

Ministers are also expected to brief the Chief Minister of the action taken by their departments.

Kerala experts for 3-phased easing of curbs

09/04/2020,

 SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

An expert committee headed by former Kerala Chief Secretary K.M. Abraham has recommended a phased relaxation of the lockdown to contain COVID-19 for areas outside the seven hotspot districts in the State from April 15.

“It should be borne in mind that the phased withdrawal is sustainable only if there is a steady recovery and decline in the number of cases leading to initial flattening of the infection curve and then gradual tapering of the curve to zero infection cases,” the committee said.

It has asked the government to advise the people that in the event of a resurgence, they should be ready and willing to undergo the rigours of a complete lockdown once again.

Phase I relaxation

For qualifying for Phase 1 relaxation, there has to be not more than one new case in the district for the entire week prior to the date of review on April 14. No increase more than 10% of the number of persons under home surveillance in the district and no hotspots of COVID-19 anywhere in the district as identified by the Health Department are the other criteria fixed.

Criteria for Phase II

A district will qualify for Phase II relaxation at the time of second review only if there is no more than one new case for the entire fortnight prior to the date of review. Not more than a 5% increase in the number of persons under home surveillance from the date of the previous review and no infection hotspots are the additional criteria.

Phase III relaxation

A district will qualify for Phase III relaxation only if there is no new case of infection in that district for the fortnight prior to the date of review. Also, a decrease of more than 5% of the number of persons under home surveillance from the date of the previous review and no hotspots anywhere in the district are needed.

Judge donates ₹2.5 lakh for junior lawyers

09/04/2020, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

Justice S.M. Subramaniam of the Madras High Court on Wednesday donated ₹2.5 lakh to a fund created by Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to help indigent junior lawyers who had lost their earnings due to the nationwide lockdown. After handing over the cheque to the BCTNP, the judge made an appeal to senior lawyers to make generous contributions towards the fund so that the bar council would be able to provide financial relief to all needy junior lawyers.

“What we are facing is a disaster of epic proportions. This is the time to come out and share our wealth with those in need. There’s no point in talking about social equality if we do not open our hearts and wallets even at this crucial hour,” he said.

With increased workload, women a stressed lot

SCARF undertakes study online

09/04/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

The lockdown has had many effects on people from various walks of life. For a section of women at home, it added to the workload. It was no different with stress levels, with more women feeling stressed during the lockdown than men. Those who were single and staying alone were more stressed, an online survey by Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF) has found.

The survey had 502 participants — 196 men and 306 women — and was aimed at determining if there was increased task sharing in the families during the lockdown. Of the participants, nearly 65% were in the age group of 35-55. Eighty eight per cent were married, while eight per cent were single.

“We keep hearing women say that their work has increased as all family members were at home due to the shutdown. We wanted to know the real impact on people,” R. Thara, vice chairperson, SCARF, said.

Women participants expressed that their domestic responsibilities had increased by nearly 16% than usual (60% before lockdown), while for men, it increased by 13% than normal (36%). In fact, while the elders in the family were helping as usual with the domestic responsibilities, children were found to be helping more — an increase by 10% — during the lockdown, the survey found. A total of 36% of the participants were working from home, 33% were at home but were not doing any professional work from home, 16% were going for work as usual and 15% were homemakers.

Lakshmi Venkatraman, consultant psychiatrist, SCARF, said, “Working women continued to do work at home along with their professional work, so it was an added load. We wanted to look at how much sharing of labour happens between different family members. It is not surprising that the workload has increased, as before the lockdown, they would have had domestic help or a cook at home,” she said.

A total of 39% of the participants stated that they were stressed during the lockdown. Women accounted for a higher percentage — 66 % of women were stressed as compared to 34% men. Persons, who were single and staying alone, were more stressed.

Veggies through delivery apps

09/04/2020, , T. RAMAKRISHNAN,CHENNAI

Delivery service personnel queuing up outside a vegetables and fruits outlet. M. Karunakaran

Chennai residents can now order and receive vegetables and fruits, being sold at the Koyambedu market, at their doorstep through delivery service apps such as Swiggy, Zomato and Dunzo.

Aimed at serving individual buyers, the apps will have an option for the Koyambedu market. A combo pack, having 14 to 16 vegetables and 5 fruits, can be ordered. The rates for the vegetables and fruits will be as per the decision of the Koyambedu Market Management Committee.

In other words, the people will be able to buy the commodities at wholesale rates, pointed out an official of the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Department, adding that the daily rates will be hosted on the Chennai Metropolitan Development Agency’s (CMDA) website — http://www.cmdachennai.gov.in.

The idea is to offer a total of 18 vegetables and 8 fruits to the city residents, who are finding it difficult to get the commodities due to lockdown.

In the case of bulk purchasers, residents’ welfare associations covering 25 families or more, they can place orders through the CMDA’s website or by dialling 730 5050 541, 730 5050 542, 730 5050 543, 730 5050 544, 902 5653 376 or 044-24791133.

The CMDA will operate 50 vehicles initially, said an official release. Depending upon the response, the number of vehicles will be increased. Also, it has been planned to run vehicles for people living in tenements of the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board or areas where economically weaker sections of society and the middle class are living.

The door-delivery service has become possible thanks to an arrangement worked out by the CMDA, which supervises the working of the Koyambedu wholesale market complex. “What is disturbing us is that a large number of people continue to visit the Koyambedu market regularly for buying vegetables. We want to discourage this trend. This is why we have come up with this arrangement,” said the official of HUD department, under which comes CMDA.

Extend lockdown by 3 weeks: Anbumani

09/04/2020,CHENNAI

PMK youth wing leader Anbumani Ramadoss on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to extend the 21-day lockdown by three more weeks from April 15, to contain the spread of COVID-19. “PPEs should be provided to all doctors immediately,” he added.

Govt. asks corporates to donate to CMPRF

Donations to be considered CSR expense

09/04/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

In the light of the Centre’s clarification that funds contributed by private companies to the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund (CMPRF) can be considered as CSR funds, the Tamil Nadu government has called upon corporates to donate generously to CMPRF.

An official release issued on Wednesday evening referred to the notification issued by the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs, in this regard, on March 23.

It also referred to the order of the National Disaster Management Authority on March 24, which stated that funds received by CMPRF, between March 24 and June 30, could be used for COVID-19-related expenses.

“Major corporates and other companies could contribute generously towards the CMPRF,” it added.

Police launch hunt for man who tested positive

He was under quarantine and released on Tuesday night

09/04/2020, S. PRASAD,VILLUPURAM

The Villupuram district police have alerted their counterparts in Puducherry and launched a manhunt, after test results of a man who was quarantined in a private institution and released on Tuesday night came back positive. The man is absconding and police teams have launched a search for him.

Highly placed sources, on condition of anonymity, said that the Health Department in Villupuram had released 25 persons, quarantined in the institution, on Tuesday night, after their test results came back negative.

All the 25, excluding the man, were immediate relatives of returnees from the conference in Delhi.

A top police official said that the authorities seemed to have bungled up test reports, since the results of four of them had come back positive. The police immediately swung into action and traced three of them — all relatives of people who had returned from Delhi. They have been taken to isolation wards in Villupuram, while whereabouts of the man hailing from Delhi is not yet known.

The man, hailing from Patel Nagar in New Delhi, had come to Puducherry to attend an interview last month, after which he reached Villupuram.

When contacted, Villupuram Collector A. Annadurai said that the incident was being investigated by the Directorate of Medical Services.

Meanwhile, the Villupuram district administration on Wednesday circulated the photo of the man.

The administration has issued the appeal, asking people to immediately alert the control room on 04146 - 223265 if he is spotted anywhere.

The Villupuram police have formed three special teams to look for him.

At 48 fresh cases, Wednesday’s tally is lowest since April 1

Forty-two connected to Delhi event test positive; 74-year-old woman recovers

09/04/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

On Wednesday, the State recorded 48 fresh cases, the lowest since April 1. Of these, 42 were connected to a ‘single source event’ (Delhi conference), according to Health Secretary Beela Rajesh.

Of the remaining six who tested positive, two had travel/contact history and were already under the Health Department’s quarantine.

“Four others, from Chennai, had ‘unidentified’ source of infection. We are in the process of tracking contacts of the four persons,” Dr. Rajesh said.

In total, the number of persons who have tested positive and are connected to the ‘single source event’ is 679 — seven foreign nationals and 14 of their contacts, 553 attendees and 105 of their contacts — she said. “Other than this, we have 59 patients. Of these, 26 had travel history and 33 were contacts of those with travel history,” she added.

Till date, a total of 1,480 persons who attended the event have been traced and isolated.

Woman discharged

The 74-year-old woman who was discharged on Wednesday was admitted to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital with severe respiratory distress on March 26.

A resident of Pozhichalur, she tested positive for COVID-19 and underwent treatment. She also had uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension, a press release issued by RGGGH said.

Sixteen persons — 12 women and four men — from Theni; seven persons — three women and four men — from Chennai; six men from Tiruchi; five persons — four women and one man — from Namakkal; four persons — three women and one man — from Tirunelveli; four persons — two men and two women — from Villupuram; two men from Tiruppur; and one each from Dindigul, Salem, Tiruvallur and Vellore tested positive on Wednesday.

Vegetables set to be delivered at doorsteps

09/04/2020,CHENNAI

Chennai residents can now order and receive vegetables and fruits, being sold at the Koyambedu market, at their doorsteps, through delivery service apps such as Swiggy, Zomato and Dunzo.

Escaping quarantine centres at night, returning by day

Migrant workers slip out of Bihar shelters, allegedly lacking basic facilities, only to return for free food

09/04/2020, AMARNATH TEWARY,PATNA

A file photo of migrant workers lodged in a government-run shelter home in Patna.Ranjeet Kumar

Many of Bihar’s migrant workers, who have been quarantined in village schools and panchayat buildings after returning from elsewhere in the country, are found missing from these centres at night, with most of them likely heading home to join their families before coming back to the quarantine facilities in the morning, according to village heads.

After the countrywide lockdown was imposed last month to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, Bihar’s government set up quarantine centres at 3,115 government schools and panchayat buildings in rural parts of the State.

The government said more than 1.7 lakh people had returned to the State in the wake of the lockdown, and as many as 27,300 of them had been lodged in these quarantine centres opened in different districts.

However, several of those staying in these centres, usually for two weeks, told The Hindu over phone that though they were being provided with free food, the shelters lacked even basic infrastructure like electricity, toilets and beds. “Let’s not even talk about sanitisers or masks,” they complained.

Village mukhias (heads), who have been asked to monitor the movement of those quarantined, often feel helpless under local pressure.

“In my village school building, 14 migrants have been quarantined for the last three days but the building has no window, toilet, door or bed,” admitted a village head of Saraiya block in Muzaffarpur district, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “Only food is being served to them three times a day. So many of them go to their family at night and return to the quarantine centre in the day for free food.”

Similar reports have also come from several village heads in Madhubani, Munger, Samastipur, Siwan, Sitamarhi, Araria and Katihar districts. The migrants placed in quarantine centres quietly slip away at night to join their families while coming back to the centre in the daytime. “Yes, free food is the only attraction for them, otherwise they would have not come to the centre even in the daytime,” asserted several village heads, who all declined to be identified.

The infrastructure at several village schools and panchayat buildings in Bihar is barely adequate with no toilets or washrooms. Many schools are windowless, have no doors separating rooms and are without running water or electricity supply.

It will not be possible to lift the lockdown in one go, says Modi

The country is going through a ‘social emergency’, PM tells political parties

09/04/2020, SOBHANA K. NAIR ,NEW DELHI

At a videoconference on Wednesday with parties’ floor leaders in Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it won’t be possible to lift the 21-day nationwide lockdown in one go as scheduled for April 14. He, however, noted that he would consult the Chief Ministers before deciding the exit strategy.

Speaking at the end of a nearly three-and-a-half-hour meeting, Mr. Modi said the country was going through a “social emergency”.

Many countries are using lockdown and physical distancing to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. “In the coming days, you have suggested that the lockdown should not be lifted all of a sudden, it should be staggered. Till now, the suggestions I have been getting are that it won’t be so simple to lift the lockdown. We will have to take some strong measures to ensure social distancing,” he said.

Mr. Modi thanked the parties for their support. “Today, the situation in the country is akin to a social emergency; it has necessitated tough decisions and we must continue to remain vigilant,” he said, and sought their continued support. “Kareeb, Kareeb yeh mood ban raha hai ki ek dum se lockdown uthana sambhav nahi hoga (The general mood is that it won’t be possible to lift the lockdown at one go).”

Leaders from 18 political parties attended the interaction. Top Central officials gave presentations on the steps being taken to meet the emerging challenges, including the status of distribution of benefits under the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana.

The Congress supported an extension to the lockdown. Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said, “There is no question of supporting it or opposing it. It is a decision to be taken by the government. If they consult everyone before taking the decision, we shall welcome it.” The majority of the parties felt that there should be a calibrated exit from the lockdown, he added.

‘Sweltering city may get rain in the next 48 hrs’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:09.04.2020

The high levels of humidity are making morning visits to the grocer shop, walks for some fresh air or even simply staying indoors difficult in the city. Though the present weather is normal for April, weathermen said there is some relief in sight as it is likely to rain in the next two days.

Experts said the days have become hotter in the past one week due to the incoming moisture-laden southeasterly winds from the sea. On Wednesday, at 11am, the minimum humidity recorded was around 74%.

“We recorded maximum humidity of 96% during the day. It is because the winds from the sea travel for about 20 to 30km into the land bringing moisture. So, you feel hotter even though the temperature has remained the same for the last few weeks,” said N Puviarasan, director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, IMD, Chennai.

The city recorded 34°C in Nungambakkam and 35.6°C in Meenambakkam, around -0.1°C and 0.4°C below and above normal, with skies mostly cloudy, which also meant above normal night time temperatures. The minimum temperature which was at around 25°C a few days ago has gone nearly three degrees up. On early Wednesday morning before sunrise, Nungambakkam recorded 28.7°C, around 2.6°C above normal and Meenambakkam registered 27.5°C, which was 1.8°C above normal.

IMD has forecast that the sky condition is likely to be generally cloudy. “Maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 35°C and 28°C in the city for the next 48 hours,”

However, the present condition may not last longer as experts have forecast light rain in coastal areas of Tamil Nadu including Chennai for the next two days. IMD has forecast thunderstorms for the next two days in the interior regions of Tamil Nadu.

“It will be a hit or miss for coastal areas including Chennai. Winds are converging in the interior region of Tamil Nadu and that may bring rainfall in those areas. But that is all going to change after April 11 when the temperatures are likely to drop,” said weather blogger Pradeep John.

Stand-up comics turn virtual spotlight on Covid-19

Kamini.Mathai@timesgroup.com

Chennai:09.04.2020

When stand-up comedians in Chennai recently put out an online poll on what kind of jokes people would like to hear on the virtual shows they were planning, #Corona and #21DaysinLockdown came out tops trumping even the topic ‘Rajinikanth in politics’. So Corona it shall be, but in good taste, promise the comedians.

“Hey Corona,” says standup Vikash Paul. “Are you a fake accent? Because people seem to go abroad and come back with you.”

Thirty-one-year-old Paul from Chennai is one of several comics getting set to perform on Comedy Sabha, which streams every Friday at 7.30 pm on Instagram’s InstaLive. “Stand-up is as much about context as it is about comedy and right now the only thing people want to talk about is coronavirus. There is no point trying to force other topics,” says Paul.

“As stand-ups we are keeping in mind the gravity of the situation,” says Paul, “but the quarantine and the lockdown has generated so much one can create comedy around like WFH or work from home, the absurd WhatsApp forwards and rumours. Or how about the fact that because of less air pollution people can now finally see ‘ache din’?”

Stand-up Annamalai L, who started Comedy Sabha through his outfit Tanglish Comedy, says that for the last year, the comedians were performing at different ‘physical’ venues every week, and they didn’t want to stop the Friday shows because of the lockdown, so they took the performances online. “So far, coronavirus has led every poll we conducted online on what topics the audience would like,” he says.

Other stand-up groups too are trying virtual shows. On Thursday, Theatre Evam for instance, plans to host an open mic session on Zoom, where upcoming comedians can perform their bits.

Last week, actor TM Karthik did an online stand-up show as a fundraiser. He says that though he steered clear of corona jokes, he did speak of how the virus has changed the way people view life. “Performing online was a surreal experience because you don’t have an audience in front of you. At one point the organisers had to turn off the video option because we could see some of our virtual audience lounging about in shorts,” says Karthik.

Annamalai, who has performed twice online, says it is a challenge. “When you have the audience in front of you, their laughs and claps are instant responses. The only response you get are in the form of smileys, hearts and comments. You have to imagine they are laughing.”

Vikash Paul (above) will perform online on Friday. Annamalai L (right) during a live show

Chennai-based team develops digital ventilator in 4 days

MT.Saju@timesgroup.com

Chennai:09.04.2020

Six young men from a city company have developed the prototype of a remote-controlled digital ventilator in four days during the lockdown, the firm’s co-founder has said. Experts in the field, though reluctant to compare it with those in use in hospital ICUs, say it has many advantages.

L N Rajaram of Kritilabs Technologies Pvt. Ltd in Taramani, who led the team, said the idea came up a couple of days before the lockdown began on March 24. The design for the device, which can be controlled by a smart phone app, was done at home, but the team had to travel to the office to assemble it, he said.

It was made with material available in the company factory and has all features of existing ventilators, he said. “As Covid-19 cases began rising in TN, we knew hospitals will need ventilators. But there was no discussion on what type of ventilators are needed. The ones available in most ICUs may cost lakhs. So we developed one suitable for today’s needs with all basic facilities,” said Rajaram, who as joint director in a defence project cell was helped design and deploy systems aboard INS Vikrant, said a device he developed for the oil sector to prevent pilferage five years ago gave him the idea for this one. “The mechanism is the same,” he said.

“Since it is battery-powered, it can be taken anywhere. The rechargeable battery will provide power for six to eight hours,” he said.

Rajaram, whose firm bagged the Nasscom award for best IOT company, is aware it is only a prototype. “I am talking to many doctors to get the devise tested. I am also trying to get a trial done using a dummy lung under experts. However, if we get support from the government, we can produce more than 10,000 pieces in a short span of time," he added.

Dinesh Ekambaram, a senior anaesthetist and ICU specialist based in Bengaluru, said devices presently used in hospitals had a lot functions needed for medical emergencies. “But this is promising and advanced.”

The device can be controlled by a smartphone app

AROUND TN

Swab samples of 30 primary contacts of TJ attendees from Nilgiris lifted

09.04.2020

Health officials in Ooty on Wednesday collected samples of throat swabs and blood from 30 primary contacts, mostly family members, of the eight attendees of Tabligi Jamaat congregation in New Delhi. While four of the attendees have tested positive for Covid-19, the remaining tested negative. The four positive cases are being treated at ESI Hospital in Coimbatore while the other four are being monitored at the isolation ward of Ooty government hospital.

“A team of health officials lifted samples from all the 30 primary contacts. The samples will be sent to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital lab for Covid-19 test,” collector J Innocent Divya said.

The attendees returned to their homes in the district on March 24. They were with their families for at least two days till they were home quarantined by the officials on March 27. On March 31, the eight people were shifted to the isolation ward in Ooty government hospital.

While the three attendees of the religious congregation are from Coonoor and Kotagiri each, two are from Ooty town. The localities where their families live are sealed as per containment plan.

Meanwhile, the Nilgiris district is expecting the imported rapid test kits in a day or two for conducting tests at the three containment areas. “The government has instructed to conduct sample tests in the containment areas too. The exercise of sample tests for Covid-19 in those areas will commence on Friday using the rapid test kits,” Divya said.

Mahe man tests positive, fifth case in Puducherry

A 71-year-old man from Mahe, Puducherry’s enclave in Kerala, tested positive for Covid-19 taking the total number of positive cases in the Union territory to five as on Wednesday. The patient, with a history of renal and cardiac ailments, and pneumonia, has been undergoing treatment at the Pariyaram Government Medical College Hospital in Kannur district of Kerala.

Health officials said the patient did not visit any foreign country but might have contracted the virus from people who had returned from abroad. The administration has quarantined 28 people who came in contact with him. Eleven of them underwent medical tests and tested negative. The rest will be tested soon. The administration has launched efforts to trace more than 20 others who came in contact with him recently. Inquiries revealed that he had visited a mosque inside a school in Mahe from March 15-21. He attended a betrothal function on March 18 at a town in Kannur district in which more than 40 people had participated.

The man complained of fever and sore throat on March 23. After his condition deteriorated on March 31, he was admitted to a private hospital. His throat swab samples were taken on April 6.

TV journalist jailed following doc’s complaint

A journalist with a popular news channel was arrested and remanded in Ponneri subjail on Tuesday, based on a complaint from a doctor, after he shot some videos about people allegedly being prescribed drugs by nurses and medical assistants without being diagnosed by doctors at a primary health centre (PHC) in Minjur.

The journalist went to the spot after being informed about it by a local resident. Video footage shows him asking people who were in a queue if they had seen a doctor and all of them said they hadn’t. He confronts people in the dispensary asking them if they were doctors to give out medicine, and no one replies.

The Minjur police registered a case based on the complaint of the PHC doctor G S Rajesh and arrested journalist Damodharan. Police detained him at the Minjur police station until 10.30pm. He was remanded in jail by a magistrate late in the night.

Representatives of the TV channel met the state police chief J K Tripathy who told them an inquiry had been ordered and the probe report would be out on Thursday.

151 under quarantine in Ramnad after attending funeral of Covid-19 +ve man

The Ramanathapuram district administration has placed as many as 151 people, including a former minister under quarantine after they attended the funeral of a 71-year-old man who died of Covid-19.

The man, hailing from Ramanathapuram district had died at the Covid-19 isolation ward of Stanley Hospital in Chennai on April 2. His body was buried in a mosque in Keelakarai in Ramanathapuram on April 3. According to sources, several people, including Ramanathapuram MLA and former IT minister M Manikandan and his father, had attended the funeral as his test results were not known then.

Later, when his test result turned out to be positive, officials from the district administration started to identify those who attended the funeral and asked them to remain in self-quarantine.

Based on a complaint by the village administrative officer, the Keelakarai police registered a case against both sons of the deceased for organising the funeral despite being aware that their father was admitted to the isolation ward. They had also violated the 144 promulgation rules.

Speaking to TOI, district collector K Veera Raghava Rao said of the 151 people, 11 are family members of the deceased, while five had performed the rituals during the funeral. All are being closely monitored and swab samples would be taken from them for testing, he added.

Anna univ to develop grids for Covid-hit areas

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:09.04.2020

In an effort to boost its micro containment plan, the health department is using Anna University’s technical expertise to mark a grid that would help estimate households which would come within the containment zone and buffer zone around the epicentre. Experts from the university’s Institute of Remote Sensing (IRS) will prepare grids for more than 700 Covid-19 cases in Tamil Nadu and also for cases with symptoms to contain the virus spread.

The university will also share its GIS database with the health department for better containment. Currently, the government is putting under quarantine streets or roads where Covid-19 positive cases are found.

“We will mark the location of Covid-19 affected areas in Geographic Information System (GIS) map based on the data given by state health department. A team of health officials would decide on the buffer zone, containment zone,” said IRS director S S Ramakrishnan.

Based on the GIS map, health department officials can also mark the possible directions in which the virus can spread. “If there is a patient on a street, we can easily map the surrounding areas where he or she would have accessed for possible spread. This map would be useful to police and local body authorities to mark containment zone and buffer zone,” he said.

For example, if authorities want to quarantine people residing within a 500 metre radius around an epicentre, the digital mapping would accurately map even the details of street and houses where the access needs to be restricted.

It is likely to be integrated with the mobile platforms. The GIS map of Covid-19 cases likely to be made available to members of the public.

Other data like population density, the location whether it is urban or rural also can be integrated with the GIS map. “They can find out a different solution for each grid separately based on its location,” Ramakrishnan said.

The health department has already prepared a GIS map with the help of the state’s e-Governance Agency. To prepare an accurate map for prediction and containment, officials have sought the help of remote sensing experts from Anna University.

The health department is also using the expertise of professors from IIT Madras in analysing the spread of the virus and containment activities.

Will TN end or extend lockdown?

State Mulls Options, Looks To Centre

Pushpa Narayan & U Tejonmayam TNN

Chennai:09.04.2020

What will be the exit strategy for Tamil Nadu, which has the second highest Covid-19 positive cases in the country?

TN will wait for the Centre to announce its strategy, officials say. “We are gearing up for an extension of the lockdown with the existing rules. It’s not a final decision, but we don’t yet have a better option to push back the virus,” said a senior health official. “The second best option would be to allow a staggered relaxation. Malls, cinemas, hotels, pubs and large retail chains would continue to remain closed. Factories could operate if they were ready. Shops would open for a few hours. But they should be ready to down shutter and go through the drill if their staff test positive,” the official said. In both these scenarios, inter-district and inter-state passenger travel would be restricted.

The best case and worst case scenarios are being discussed, said a senior official. “We are looking at the epidemiology of the disease within the state, mathematical models and the behaviour of the virus in the UK, Spain and Germany,” the official said. “We do see that the lockdown has delayed the peak, but we don’t know if it will bring down the peak or flatten the curve. Mathematical models have made different predictions,” the official said.

On Tuesday, officials from the public health department suggested that they do random screening of patients with rapid kits to identify hotspots in containment zones and in areas where cases are not reported. The study, which may be done by an external agency, will help the state decide on areas where lockdown can be eased.

Even after the lockdown, a large population could still be susceptible to the virus and entry of new positive cases from across the borders could start the chain of infections again. Ronojoy Adhikari from University of Cambridge said along with lockdown and social distancing measures, extensive testing and mapping affected regions are also important. “District level testing should be started immediately. Once infection levels are down to manageable numbers, we will need to ensure that infected individuals and their contact networks are traced and quarantined” said Adhikari.

Finally, the state also has the option of allowing “staggered peaks”, though many officials instantly slammed the idea. “The idea is to open some districts to peak after protecting the vulnerable. This way the state can rush all its resources and teams to that area. Once herd immunity is achieved, we move on to the next. But this may not be ideal,” said a senior doctor.

Make Covid testing free in pvt hosps: SC

AmitAnand.Choudhary@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:09.04.2020

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the government to issue appropriate orders immediately for free of cost testing for coronavirus even in private hospitals and laboratories, saying the current charges — though capped at ₹4,500 — will be beyond the reach of the poor.

The court said it would examine later whether the private entities, carrying out the tests free of cost, would be entitled to reimbursement. The apex court said private hospitals too have an important role to play in containing the scale of the pandemic by extending philanthropic services in the hour of national crisis.

The court also passed directions to the Centre and states to ensure safety of doctors and medical staff saying they are the warriors against coronavirus and the first line of defence of the country to combat the pandemic.

‘Pvt labs should act generously in this hour of national crisis’

The court said, “We find prima facie substance in the submission of petitioner that at this time of national calamity permitting private labs to charge ₹4,500 for screening and confirmation test of Covid-19 may not be within the means of a large part of population of this country and no person be deprived to undergo the Covid-19 test due to nonpayment of capped amount of ₹4,500.”

“The private hospitals, including laboratories, have an important role to play in containing the scale of the pandemic by extending philanthropic services in the hour of national crisis. We thus are satisfied that the petitioner has made out a case for issuing a direction to the respondents to issue necessary direction to accredited private labs to conduct free of cost Covid-19 test. The question as to whether the private laboratories carrying free of cost Covid-19 tests are entitled for any reimbursement of expenses incurred shall be considered later on. We further are of the view that tests relating to Covid-19 must be carried out in NABL-accredited labs or any agencies approved by ICMR,” a bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and S Ravindra Bhat said.

The court also passed directions to the Centre and states to ensure safety of doctors and medical staff saying they are the warriors against coronavirus and the first line of defence of the country to combat the pandemic.

The court expressed concern over incidents of attack and harassment of medical staff involved in treating Covid-19 patients and said all citizens have to act in a responsible manner to extend a helping hand to the government and medical staff to perform their duties to contain and combat the deadly virus.

Full report on www.toi.in

HELPING HAND: Punjab police personnel prepare food in a community kitchen to serve the needy in Amritsar on Wednesday

₹500, ₹850 ₹1,000 PACKS

7,000 mobile grocery units of civic body in city from today

Srikkanth.D@timesgroup.com

Chennai:09.04.2020

To meet the grocery needs of city residents hit by the lockdown, Chennai Corporation will roll out 7,000 mobile grocery units across the city from Thursday. Commissioner G Prakash, who made the announcement on Wednesday after meeting representatives of traders’ association at the Ripon Buildings, said 5,000 tricycles and 2,000 autorickshaws and vans would be used for the purpose.

“We have collaborated with scrap dealers to convert tricycles into vegetable carts for the purpose. Since most scrap dealers  have been out of business because of the lockdown, this will also help them,” said A M Vikramaraja, president, Federation of Tamil Nadu Traders’ Association.

According to Vikramaraja, each pack will contain an assortment of household items, including rice, dal, oil, soaps and biscuit packets, and will be available as ₹500, ₹850 and ₹1,000 packs. All vehicles will have price list for people to check. The civic body will provide special ID cards to the vendors and the vehicles will carry the Chennai Corporation logo.

CMDA allows door delivery of Koyambedu mkt veggies

The vendors will be provided with safety gloves and masks which they must wear at all times. Several other departments, too, have come up with schemes to ensure people stay indoors without worrying about their daily needs.

The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), for instance, has introduced a scheme wherein people can dial, order online or log on to food delivery apps to access fruits and vegetables directly from the Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex (KWMC) that would be delivered at their doorsteps.

According to a release from the CMDA, people can contact 7305050541, 7305050542, 7305050543, 7305050544, 9025653376 and 044-24791133 for placing order. A link has been created in the CMDA portal http://www.cmdachennai.gov.in for placing orders online.

Orders can be placed for a minimum of 25 families and not individual customers. Combo packets comprising a maximum of 16 varieties of vegetables or five types of fruits for a price range of ₹200 to ₹250 is also available. Orders can be placed through food delivery apps such as Zomato, Swiggy and Dunzo to buy the combo packets, the release said. The state horticulture department, too, has pressed 15 vehicles one for each zone to deliver vegetables, said N Subbaiyan, director of horticulture. Each unit will carry up to two tonnes of vegetables based on prebooking, he said.

Vegetables are procured from farms in Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, Vellore, Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai and Cuddalore districts. Some of them are even procured from Dindigul district, he said. For retail consumers, the department also offers combo packs of veggies and fruits. A vegetable combo is priced at 300 and fruit combo is priced at 500. They will be door-delivered by mobile units operationalized by separate set of 15 mobile units across the city. For booking veggies or fruits online visit: www.ethottam.com