Infection can be severe for those with uncontrolled diabetes  12.04.2020

TOI’s U Tejonmayam went live on Facebook with Dr V Mohan, chairman, Dr Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, asking the expert questions on Covid-19 from our readers. Below is an excerpt from the discussion

› Are diabetics more prone to contracting Covid-19?

Covid-19 is a virus infection. Therefore, one needs a source for the diabetic to come into contact with for he/ she to be infected. If a diabetic is home quarantined, he would not get Covid-19. However, if people with diabetes get the Covid-19 infection, it tends to be more severe. In people with uncontrolled diabetes, the risk of developing more severe infections is greater as immunity levels are less. For people with controlled diabetes, the immunity is almost at par for somebody without diabetes.

› Should diabetics be taking additional measures?

It is worth emphasizing that all the usual methods we follow — physical distancing, wearing a mask, washing of hands — should be followed. Apart from that, diabetics should look at their sugar levels and get it under control. Every diabetic, especially those above 60 should take pneumococcal vaccine. Influenza vaccine is also worth taking.

› What kind of myths do patients believe and enquire about?

A patient had called. He is on an insulin pump. He is at home. Sugar is under control. He was worried that because of the needle, he might get Covid-19. There is no evidence that the virus spreads through needles. Another common myth is about non vegetarian food. There has not been a single instance of the virus spreading through meat. One thing I would say is cook your food well, boil your water really well and wash your vegetables well. It is also highly unlikely that we get Covid-19 through newspapers.

› Now that we are in lockdown, what advice would you give on being physically active and keeping blood sugar low?

There are so many ways in which you can do exercise. Do skipping. If you know dancing, put on some music and dance. What is required is movement. One of the best exercises one can do is yoga, especially pranayama. If we do it for 5-10 minutes everyday, definitely immunity will increase. Even simple stretching exercises will do. Added advantage is that when you exercise, happy hormones or endorphins get released and hence there is mental peace.

› What precautions children below 10 with type-1 diabetes should take?

Luckily, age is one of the protectors. As far as Covid-19 is concerned, children below two years of age seem to be more prone. Between ages of 5 and 10 up to about 30 and 40, people are at least risk of getting Covid-19 infection. Even if you get it, chances of getting cured is more.

There has not been a single instance of the virus spreading through meat. It is also highly unlikely that we get Covid-19 through newspapers

DR V MOHAN | Chairman, Dr Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre

Violation of curfew in TN: 1.51L arrested

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:12.04.2020

As we move closer to the end of the 21-day lockdown, the Chennai police have started cracking down on people roaming in cars violating the prohibitory order under Section 144 of CrPC.

In the last 24 hours, police have impounded at least 12 cars and heavy vehicles for roaming without valid reason on the city roads. Police have arrested 1.51 lakh people for violating the prohibitory order during the lockdown period from March 24 to 6am on April 11 across the state.

Until last week, all the 4,000 policemen deployed on monitoring vehicles plying on the road and slapping cases on them, they focussed only on two-wheelers. After the city police commissioner gave a green signal to stop and impound cars too, the personnel are now checking cars.

The number of cars seized have gone up from zero to at least 12 in a day. “We will release the cars only after the lockdown is lifted,” said a police officer.

As per the police statistics in the city, they have seized 18,251 vehicles, mostly twowheelers, during the lockdown period.

The law and order police impounded at least 6,984 vehicles and the traffic enforcement police have impounded about 11,267 vehicles in the lockdown period.

₹100 cr liquor from Tasmac shops moved to safety

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:12.04.2020

After several burglaries at liquor outlets across the state during the ongoing lockdown, authorities at the Tamil Nadu state marketing corporation (Tasmac) are moving stocks from at least 1,000 shops to their depots.

Staff have been asked to empty all outlets they deem vulnerable to attacks from desperate tipplers. Of the 5,300 Tasmac outlets across the state, at least 1,000 shops, located in remote places, are considered easy prey for tipplers.

Tasmac officials say every shop has at least Rs 10 lakh to Rs.15 lakh worth liquor stocked. So far, officials have removed ₹100 crore worth of liquor to depots that are considered safer. At least Rs 50 lakh worth of liquor may have been stolen at various places across the state so far and in many other places the loss is still being ascertained, they add.

In Chennai, burglars broke open a Tasmac shop, number 433, at Rail Nagar near Koyambedu in the wee hours of Saturday and decamped with cartons of liquor, leaving a small quantity behind. A police team on patrol spotted six cartons of liquor outside the shop around 2am and informed the Tasmac authorities. The cartons were taken to the police station and a case was registered. The Tasmac officials are ascertaining the loss caused.

As the ongoing lockdown enters the third week, the number of attempts made by tipplers to get liquor or go in for substitutes is increasing. A few instances of people burgling or trying to burgle Tasmac liquor outlets have been reported from Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts. In Chengalpet, at least three people desperate for liquor consumed a chemical and lost their lives, while two people died in central Tamil Nadu due to similar reasons.

A Tasmac employee said the corporation, already reeling due to the no-sale rule during the ongoing lockdown, is incurring additional costs while transporting huge stocks of liquor from vulnerable outlets to godowns.

A tasmac shop before the lockdown came in to effect

Markets remain messy as people refuse to maintain a safe distance

Hawkers Blame Public Attitude For Crowding, Corpn Puts Onus On Shops

Srikkanth.D@timesgroup.com

12.04.2020

Appeals to the public to exercise physical distancing while visiting vegetable markets have not attracted the desired results, evident from the photographs from such markets across the city.

At Thiruvanmiyur market on Saturday, even a coronavirus scarecrow did not serve its purpose as public continued to flout physical distancing norms. Similar scenes were witnessed at the Lloyds Road market near Royapettah and several other markets in the city, where public thronged showing no concern for the virus scare.

Corporation should instead allow hawkers to spread out and set up shops across a neighbourhood so that people need not venture to the market to buy essentials, said A Saikiran, a resident of Thiruvanmiyur.

Vendors, however say that the public attitude is the reason for overcrowding. “Take for instance, the Koyambedu market. It is meant only for wholesale trade. But, one can see people on two-wheelers and buying vegetables there. People are not treating the situation like an emergency, but rather like a holiday,” said A M Vikaramaraja, president, Federation of Tamil Nadu Traders’ Association. According to Vikramaraja, public buy vegetables for two or three houses as rates are cheap at Koyambedu and it is the responsibility of authorities to not allow those other than retailers to enter the market.

“Authorities say that the onus rests with the vendors to ensure social distancing. Will public listen to us or the authorities,” asked Vikramaraja. He also suggested that the authorities rent wedding halls and set up stalls there to ensure physical distancing.

Corporation officials said that they have shut down markets when physical distancing goes for a complete toss. Even last week, we had sealed a makeshift vegetable market in T Nagar after norms were flouted, said a senior official.

With the lockdown likely to be extended, corporation officials said that the mobile vegetable markets that have been introduced in the city will be able to meet the needs of the public.

A total of 7,000 mobile grocery units have been commissioned across the city to ensure people don’t have to venture out needlessly.

An area of concern for the civic body, however, is regulating the public thronging the meat stalls and fish markets, which have continuously seen physical distancing norms flouted every Sunday since the lockdown.

“In neighbouring municipalities like Pammal, Tiruverkadu, Avadi, meat shops have been asked to remain shut. A blanket ban like that in the city is difficult as the number of shops are more and the fish markets do not come under the purview of the civic body,” a senior corporation official said.

YET TO FALL IN LINE: (Top) People standing close to each other at Thiruvanmiyur market on Saturday. A recent photo of Koyambedu market

HAWKERS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO SET UP SHOPS ACROSS A NEIGHBOURHOOD

SO THAT PEOPLE DON’T GO TO MARKETS, SAID A SAIKIRAN, OF THIRUVANMIYUR

AROUND TAMIL NADU

Unable to find liquor, 35-yearold drinks hand sanitizer, dies

A35-year-old Sulur resident in Coimbatore, who was addicted to alcohol, died after drinking hand sanitizer on Saturday. Police said E Bernard, an LPG cylinder delivery man, was given a bottle of hand sanitizer a couple of days back by his employer, to practice good hygiene amid the Covid-19 outbreak. Bernard, who could not buy liquor due to the lockdown, added some water to the alcohol-based hand sanitizer and drank it. He was rushed to the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital after experiencing breathing trouble around 2am on Saturday and died later. Bernard is survived by his wife B Priya and three daughters. The Sulur police have registered a case under Section 174 of CrPC.

Artists do their bit, paint roads with awareness slogans

Graffiti urging residents to stay home and practice social distancing have appeared in various spots in Trichy. Among them is a massive graffiti measuring 60ft in length and 30ft wide, painted by 25 artists in 5 hours on Salai Road junction. Trichy District Artists Association on Saturday painted four other places including Thiruverumbur, Palpannai, Srirangam and Manachanallur to spread awareness. “Medical professionals, police and sanitary workers are doing a lot to combat the deadly virus. We, for our bit, are spreading awareness through art,” V Nagendiran, district president of the artists’ association said.

Fishermen urge govt to cancel annual fishing ban this year

Fishermen, especially those working using mechanised boats, have appealed to the state government to urge the Centre to cancel the annual 61-day fishing ban this year. The fishermen have already been off the sea for a few weeks due to the Covid-19 lockdown and said are suffering from losses. The ministry of fisheries, animal husbandry and dairy on March 20 stated that the ban will be observed in two phases. The ban on all motorised fishing vessels on the east coast will be for 61 days from April 15 to June 14, while along the west coast it will be from June 1 to July 31. Only non-motorized boats are exempted from the ban. A fisheries official said, “We will enforce the ban,” hinting the banned days might be reduced.

No drinking water for 12 days, residents protest

Residents of Puliyakulam and surrounding areas in Coimbatore on Saturday staged a road roko to over delay in supply of potable water. The residents said they were not supplied drinking water for the past 12 days and that representations to civic body officials to address the issue hadn’t borne any fruit. “There has been no drinking water in common taps and household taps,” said a resident. Police, however, managed to disperse the 30-odd protesters citing the lockdown, when they were not to allowed to gather in large numbers.

COURTESY: RUMOUR MILL

Covid sends people rushing for immunity boosters

Sukshma.R@timesgroup.com

12.04.2020

The demand for immunity boosters, including vitamin C supplements, siddha concoctions and fruits like oranges has gone up as there is a perception that these will protect against Covid-19 though there is no scientific proof backing it.

“Recently, we found many people wanting to buy vitamin and health supplements in various forms like powder or pills that are available over the counter. People are in particular favouring chewable vitamin C supplements as it is suggested for preventing respiratory illnesses. Costly brands are also flying off the shelves,” said a pharmacist from Kamarajar Salai in Madurai.

“These supplements will help those who are deficient in vitamins, but it is of no use to fit and healthy individuals. It is recommended mainly to those who have comorbid illnesses and need nutrition,” said Dr R Ramesh, a general physician.

Similarly, fruits, especially those particularly rich in vitamin C like oranges and grapes are sought after despite them being sold at double the usual price at ₹120 and ₹100 per kg.

Many are also opting for siddha concoctions. Recently, a ministry of Ayush advisory recommended the use of nilavembu and kabasura kudineer concoctions to build immunity. Nilavembu is popular for its use to prevent dengue. Kabasura kudineer, which was previously known for its use to fight swine flu, is helpful to build immunity, say siddha practitioners.

“The sales of kabasura kudineer powder went through the roof after the ministry advisory. WhatsApp videos of experts recommending such herbal remedies to fight Covid-19 convinces many to buy them. Though there is no proof of its effectiveness, it seems to have a placebo effect and assures people,” said another pharmacist.

Court dismisses plea against use of railway coaches for isolation

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

12.04.2020

The Madras high court dismissed a plea seeking to restrain the Union government and the railways from converting train coaches into Covid-19 isolation wards. “Allowing such pleas will reduce energetic services rendered by various people,” the court said.

The plea moved by M Munusamy claimed that provisions for ventilators and other equipment needed to treat Covid-19 patients cannot be provided in the coaches and added that sanitary condition of the coaches would not be appropriate.

Justice S Vaidyanathan passed dismissed it after the railways counsel P T Ramkumar submitted that the coaches are converted to isolate patients with mild symptoms, who might not need hospitalisation.

Ramkumar said Covid-19 patients are categorised into three groups - mildly and very mildly affected persons, moderately affected persons and severely affected persons.

“Those, who fall under Group-I (mild and very mild) will be housed in the coaches, which are merely going to be used as isolation wards and will not, at any cost, be used as hospitals,” Ramkumar said.

The carriages will be mobile and can be moved to places in need where there is no place for setting up isolation wards, he added.

573 coaches turn isolation wards

Southern Railway has readied 573 sleeper class coaches into insolation wards as part of the railways’ initiative to assist in the fight against Covid-19. The Railway board had initially told the zone to convert 473coaches but later increased the target to 

573. The coaches have one bathing room, plastic curtains at every cabin, clamps for oxygen cylinders, extra mobile charging points, coat hooks and mosquito nets. Coaches, more than 15years old were converted for the purpose.

Colour-coded travel passes in Chennai soon

Siddharth.Prabhakar@timesgroup.com

Chennai:12.04.2020

The Greater Chennai Corporation will issue travel passes in red, blue and green colours to commuters in the the city in the next few days.

While the general public will get green colour passes, it will be blue for government staff and red for private employees.

General public will get travel passes only for three reasons: Fixed wedding, funeral and emergency medical reasons, corporation commissioner G Prakash said.

This will be in line with a state policy as instructed by commissioner of revenue administration J Radhakrishnan, the civic body chief said.

Deputy commissioner (works) in the GCC will be the authorized entity to issue these passes in the city.

GCC has also requested residents under home quarantine to handover used masks, gloves and other waste to sanitary workers in a yellow bag on a daily basis. The bags would be provided by GCC. Used masks, gloves and other waste should be disinfected using ordinary bleach solution (5%) or sodium hypochlorite solution (1%) and kept in yellow bags exclusively in a closed bin before being handed over to conservancy staff.

As for other homes, used masks and gloves should be disinfected using the same method and kept in a separate wrapper in a closed bin before being handed over to sanitary workers.

While waste from quarantined homes will be processed at bio-medical waste processing centres and incinerators, waste from other homes will be treated as domestic hazardous waste and incinerated by the GCC, an official release said.

Corpn has screened 86.74L homes in city

As per official data released on Saturday, GCC has screened 86.74 lakh households in the city as on Friday under its door-todoor fever survey. At least 2,488 people with symptoms have been identified of which 1,746 have been cured. The rest are under observation, and they will be followed up. “We have achieved 90% target penetration of households,” Prakash said.

Responding to a question, Prakash said the civic body had the required manpower to attend to those who were under home quarantine in containment zones and doordeliver essentials would be delivered to them. He added that all 407 Amma canteens had witnessed almost double the consumption of food. “Usually the daily sale is 5 lakh to 7 lakh. We are now selling food for around 12 lakh every day,” he said. There was adequate supply of groceries at these subsidised canteens with a buffer stock of 15-20 days, he said. Responding to a question about increase in prices of essentials, he said there wasn’t any major spike in the number of complaints received. “However, if such complaints are received, we shall forward it to the labour department or initiate action ourselves,” he said.

TN wants lockdown extended by two weeks, but will await PM’s call

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:12.04.2020

The state government on Saturday said it favoured a two-week extension of the lockdown, but would wait for word from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Given that the PM is going to make an announcement on extension of nationwide lockdown, the state cabinet decided to fully accept and implement it,” chief secretary K Shanmugam said. He was briefing the media about the PM’s video-conference with all chief ministers and the state cabinet meeting that followed.

While a few states announced extension on their own, Tamil Nadu with the third highest number of Covid-19 positive cases after Maharashtra and Delhi cannot act on its own, Shanmugam said. “It is not a decision to be taken by a single state. Ours will be in tune with the PM’s announcement,” he added. During the video-conference CM Edappadi K Palaniswami suggested extension of the lockdown by two weeks, Shanmugam said.

A meeting of the state cabinet in the evening reviewed the Covid-19 outbreak and the deliberations at the PM’s meet. It also discussed the modalities of extending the lockdown till April 30.

IndiGo staff dies; he wasn’t +ve, says govt

An IndiGo airlines aircraft engineer who was admitted to GH with breathlessness died on Friday. He was working at the Chennai airport. The airline in a statement said the 57-year-old employee died ‘due to infection of Covid-19 virus’, but the state government denied it. Director of public health Dr K Kolandaisamy said the patient tested negative for Covid-19. RGGHS dean Dr R Jayanthi said, “He was 57-years-old and had breathlessness. He tested negative for Covid-19. His family members too tested negative.” P3

EPS bats for smooth supply of essential goods via trains, lorries

The cabinet’s decision comes in the wake of the Centre’s decentralized lockdown strategy that was revealed at the video conference dividing areas into green, orange and red zones. Detailed guidelines will be rolled out in a day or two. The Tamil Nadu government will tweak the strategy to suit the state’s needs, official sources told TOI.

As there is a surge in positive cases, the CM requested the Centre to supply large quantities of PCR and rapid test kits to the state and testing labs in each district. He recalled his request to the Union health minister to provide two lakh rapid test kits to test the contacts immediately. He sought an ad hoc grant of ₹1,000 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund immediately to procure medical and protective material.

In the video conference that lasted four hours, the CM said the Centre should facilitate smooth supply of essential commodities such as dal and spices from other states through railways and inter-state movement of the goods through lorries. “At this hour of prolonged lockdown, we should not allow a food crisis in the country. We should give total support to agriculture and I request you to announce a special package for agriculture and horticulture promotion,” the CM told the PM.

The chief secretary also said the United States had got the rapid test kits Tamil Nadu had ordered. TOI reported on Saturday that four lakh kits ordered by the TN government and five lakh kits ordered by the Centre were diverted to another country by the manufacturer in China. “Since the order was made earlier, an assurance has been given to supply 50,000 kits in the next consignment to India, and 50,000 kits subsequently,” he said.

If the lockdown is extended, the chief minister requested additional funding as well as allotment of essential commodities to support the unorganised sector workers, agricultural labourers. “They may be provided ₹2,000 per family,” he said. The chief minister said the existing lockdown was being implemented strictly in the state. “Train and flight services should not be resumed. I appeal to PM and other chief ministers not to allow inter-state passengers movement,” he said.

Lockdown set to be extended with some measures to restart economy

Green, Orange & Red Zones For Graded Exit Plan

Rajeev.Deshpande@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:12.04.2020

Even as the 21-day lockdown looks set to be extended, the Centre in consultation with states is moving to restart economic activity in a graded manner in what marks a major change of approach in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Spelling out the shift in a videoconference with chief ministers on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while the earlier mantra was “jaan hai to jahan hai (if there is life, you can enjoy the world)”, the way ahead would be guided by “jaan bhi, jahan bhi (life as well as our world)”. He also noted that CMs had suggested extending the lockdown by two weeks.

Right at the outset of the interaction, the PM said the situation had “left us with no option but to extend the lockdown by at least two weeks”. The discussions ended with a broad agreement on framing norms for greater public movement while continuing with a focused containment strategy for hotspots.

While the lockdown is to be extended till month-end, there will be several measures for a calibrated exit, the guidelines for which are to be spelt out in the next two to three days. Businesses and markets may be allowed to resume in areas that have no infections or a low incidence of the disease.

FULL COVERAGE: P 2-9 & 11

›Graded way, P 8

Kejri welcomes ‘PM’s correct decision’

Most CMs At One With Curb Extension

AlokKNMishra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:12.04.2020

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal suggested at a video conference with PM Narendra Modi on Saturday that the nationwide lockdown should be extended till April 30. And as a consensus seemed to have emerged on thisissuebetween the CMs attending the interaction with the PM, Kejriwal tweeted welcoming Modi’s “correct decision” to extend the lockdown though no formal announcement had been made by the Centre till late in the night.

The lockdown had started across the country on March 25 and is to remain in force till the midnight of April 14 unless it is extended. It is credited with having checked the speed of coronavirus in the country. Kejriwal also sought funds for Delhi, just like any other state, because the city is handling a greater volume of such cases as compared to many other states and has put many people – among them those who have returned from abroad – in quarantine.

Soon after the video
conferenceconcluded,Kejriwaltweeted: “PM has taken correct decision to extend lockdown. Today, India’s position is better than many developed countries because we started the lockdown early. If it is stopped now, all gains would be lost. To consolidate, it is important to extend it.” He had earlier called for extending the lockdown across the country and not just in a few states. Sources in the CM’s office said that most of the chief ministers had suggested extension of the lockdown.

The CM’s demands for central funds come in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak, which has taken a heavy toll on tax collection in Delhi amid the need for greater expenditure by the government for distribution of food andensuring socialsecurity. Delhi has been one of the very badly affected regions in the country. Recently, deputy CM Manish Sisodia wrote to Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, pointing out that “the central government provided an emergency disaster management relief assistance worth ₹17,000 crore to all states but Delhi was not given a single rupee.”

Asked whether the Delhi government will extend the lockdown by two weeks even if the central government did not do so, sources in the Delhi government said that decision will be taken by the government at an appropriate time but the discussions at the PM’s video conference have suggested that the lockdown will be extended across the country.

Since the lockdown has affected the livelihood of thousands of people, the Delhi government has arranged distribution of food for over 8 lakh andis providing free ration to71 lakh people whose family have ration cards. Those who don’t haveone are alsobeing given ration.

Electronic passes are being provided to people in Delhi to ensure that the lockdown does not affect the supply of essentialitemslike vegetables, grocery, medicines and milk among other items. Over 12,000 people are staying in shelter homes and schools which are being used to house migrant workers and homeless.

Worst-affected 4 Haryana dists including Gurgaon to fall in red zone, says Khattar

Chandigarh:

Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday said four districts including Gurgaon, which have reported the maximum number of Covid-19 cases, will be declared “red zones”, meaning stricter restrictions will placed in the areas to check the spread of the virus. The four districts — Gurgaon, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal — account for more than 100 cases out of the over 160 cases reported in the state. Many areas in these districts have already been declared containment zones.

After interacting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a video conference, Khattar said in a televised address this evening that “the indications” from the meeting were that the lockdown is set to increase by two weeks. PTI

Without lockdown, virus could’ve hit 8.2 lakh by April 15: Analysis

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:12.04.2020

A day after it said that there was no such ICMR study, the health ministry said on Saturday that there was a “statistical rate of growthbased analysis” that without the lockdown and containment measures, Covid-19 cases could be projected to spiral to 8.2 lakh by April 15, registering a 41% cumulative growth rate.

Though the health ministry had on Friday contradicted reports about such a study, the Centre clarified that the chart was a statistical analysis and not a report or a study. The projection, explained by Lav Agarwal, joint secretary in the health ministry, takes into account containment measures alone,withoutimplementation of the lockdown.

The statistical analysis also calculated that in a scenario without a lockdown, a total of 1.2 lakh positive cases could have been reported by April15 if the peak growth rate of the disease at 28.9% seen before the lockdown was initiated had sustained. At these rates, as of April 11, the cases could have been 2 lakh with only lockdown and around 44,000 with only containment measures, in keeping with the two projections.

Agarwal’s comments were a clear walk-backon the ministry’s position on Friday though the government did own up to the projection which it said was a statistical exercise. The clarification pointed to the need for closer coordination within the government.

In thecurrentsituation after implementation of lockdown as well as stringent containment measures, India is witnessing a significantly lower number of positive cases at 7,447 as of Saturday, Agarwal said highlighting the importance of measure and social distancing. The ministry reported 239 deaths so far. A total of 1,035 new cases and 40 deaths were reported on Friday.

LAST RITES: Medics in protective suits prepare to cremate a Covid-19 patient in Maharashtra

COVID-19: Telangana makes masks compulsory for all

The latest advisory issued by the Health, Medical and Family Welfare department asking everyone to use masks whenever they go out or even while interacting with others is based on the latest learning from the medical and scientific community.

By AuthorTelanganaToday | Published: 10th Apr 2020 4:00 pmUpdated: 10th Apr 2020 9:38 pm

Photo:Surya Sridhar

Hyderabad: The State government on Friday made wearing of face masks mandatory for people when they step outdoors, in closed spaces and while interacting with others. The advisory of always ‘MaskOn’ comes in the wake of revised guidelines from World Health Organisation (WHO) and Health Ministry which earlier had advised that masks could only be used by healthcare workers.

The decision to make masks mandatory was taken as a large number of infected persons might not show any symptoms (asymptomatic) but still carry the novel strain of coronavirus and potentially infect others.

Shortage of surgical masks in medical shops has been a universal problem since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, the Principal Scientific Advisor for Government of India Prof K Vijay Raghavan recently urged people to start using homemade masks.

In line with these recommendations, the State government on Friday said that those utilising homemade masks must ensure that they are worn and cleaned properly. All offices and workplaces should be encouraged to make it mandatory for their employees to wear masks at all times. All residents in rural areas must be encouraged to wear such masks while at work or when they are talking to someone.

The State health authorities also have clarified that home-made masks are not meant for healthcare workers who directly are involved in providing treatment to Covid-19 positive and suspected patients. They are also not a substitute for close contacts of positive Covid-19 patients, who have to either utilise surgical masks or N95 masks.

It was also clarified that masks are not substitute for other social distancing measures like maintaining at least a 2 metre distance from others at all times, washing hands with soap frequently and using sanitizers.

How to use

Use only a fresh and cleaned mask at the start of the day and as soon as the mask becomes damp or humid, switch to another fresh one. Never reuse a mask after single use without cleaning, which has to be done by using soap, Dettol or Savlon.

Mandatory for all

• Always wear masks while stepping out, talking to someone even indoors

• Wear mask in such a way that it covers nose, mouth and chin fully

• All officers and workplaces should encourage employees to wear masks

• Regular hand wash and maintaining distance mandatory

• Always ‘MaskOn’ doesn’t mean that mask can hang around the neck

• Use only a fresh mask to start the day and change to a new one if used mask is damp

• Masks should never be reversed and used

• Front or any other part of the masks should never be touched

• Disposable masks should be thrown after 6 hours

• Reusable masks should be cleaned with soap, Dettol or Savlon

Disposal masks v/s homemade masks

Disposable masks: Single use, 97% efficient, can’t be washed, must be disposed in a closed bag to prevent spread of virus.

Homemade masks: Multiple use, 70% effective, can be washed, easily available and can be cleaned with available ingredients at home.

Manual to prepare homemade masks:

http://psa.gov.in/sites/default/files/pdf/PSAManualonMasks_PIB_FINALpdf.pdf

16.8 million Americans lose jobs in 3 weeks6.6 million workers apply for unemployment benefits

A woman wearing a facemask as she passes the World Trade Center in New York City. — Photo: AFP

New York  11.04.2020 Telengana Today

A staggering 16.8 million Americans lost their jobs in just three weeks, a measure of how fast the coronavirus has brought world economies to their knees. Meanwhile, religious leaders worldwide urged people to celebrate Good Friday and Easter from the safety of their homes.

Governments warned that the hard-won gains against the scourge must not be jeopardized by relaxing social distancing over the weekend. Across Europe, where Easter is one of the busiest travel times, authorities set up roadblocks and otherwise discouraged family gatherings.

“That is so shocking and painful and breathtaking, I don’t even have the words for it,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. But he added that there are hopeful signs, including slowdowns in the number of people being hospitalised, admitted to intensive care and placed on ventilators.

He said the onslaught of patients has not been as big as feared and hospitals are standing up to the strain so far. About 18,000 people were hospitalised, well short of the 90,000 hospital beds statewide, many of which were hurriedly lined up at a convention center and a Navy ship docked in the city.

Numbers released Thursday by the US government showed that 6.6 million workers applied for unemployment benefits last week, on top of more than 10 million in the two weeks before that.

That amounts to about 1 in 10 American workers — the biggest, fastest pileup of job losses since the world’s largest economy began keeping records in 1948.

And still more job cuts are expected. The US unemployment rate in April could hit 15% — a number not seen since the end of the Great Depression. PTI

Cases cross 7,500 across India; death toll over 250Maharashtra records maximum number of cases at 1,574 and over 100 deaths; 

Centre gears up for extending lockdown with some possible relaxations  in god we trust: Devotees wearing masks offer prayers outside a church on the occasion of Good Friday during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the coronavirus pandemic, in Chennai, on Friday. — Photo: PTI

PTI  New Delhi 11.04.2020

The nationwide tally of confirmed Covid-19 cases crossed 7,500 on Friday with more than 250 deaths as several places including Delhi and Mumbai reported further spread of the deadly coronavirus.

The Union Home Ministry sought views of State governments on the 21-day lockdown including on whether more categories of people and services need to be exempted, officials said on Friday, amidst indications of a possible two-week extension of the nationwide restrictions to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The Health Ministry in the meantime maintained that no community transmission is taking place as yet in India, while the World Health Organisation also put the country in a category named ‘cluster of cases’ - a notch below the community transmission stage and a classification used by the global body for cases “clustered in time, geographic location and/or by common exposures”.

Later in the evening, WHO said that a hasty lifting of restrictions imposed to control the Covid-19 pandemic could lead to a fatal resurgence of the deadly virus, which has infected over 16 lakh people globally since its emergence in China last December while the worldwide death toll is fast approaching 1,00,000.

While several States including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh reported rising number of cases, the Health Ministry said the rate of people testing positive was only 0.2 per cent on Thursday when more than 16,000 samples were tested. Cumulatively close to 1.5 lakh samples have been tested so far across India.

A PTI tally of numbers reported by various States as on 9.30 pm showed a total of 7,510 having been affected by the virus nationwide so far with at least 251 deaths. More than 700 have been cured and discharged. However, the evening update from the Union Health Ministry put the number of confirmed infections at 6,761 and the death toll at 206.

Maharashtra has reported the maximum 1,574 cases, including close to 1,000 in Mumbai itself, while over 100 have died in the State. Tamil Nadu and Delhi have crossed the 900-mark in terms of positive cases, Rajasthan has over 500 now, while Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have reported more than 400 positive cases each.

Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat are also fast approaching the 400-mark, while Kerala has also reported over 300 cases already. More than 200 cases have been reported by each of Karnataka and Jammu & Kashmir, while the 100-mark has been breached already by West Bengal, Haryana and Punjab.

The Home Ministry, separately, has sought views of state governments on the 21-day lockdown, scheduled to end on April 14, including whether more categories of people and services need to be exempted, officials said on Friday. Some of the suggestions made by state governments include allowing construction-related activities in rural areas.

‘Concern over my son’s safety made me ride 1,400 kilometres’

Teacher goes on a solo rescue mission on a scooter

11/04/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,NIZAMABAD

Rajia Begum travelled from Bodhan to Nellore on her motorcycle to fetch her son.Special Arrangement

At first thought it sounds like mission impossible. But the 1,400 km distance did not deter doting mother Rajia Begum from travelling on her scooter to bring back her younger son Nizamuddin, stranded in Rahamatnagar in Nellore, following the lockdown.

He had gone to Nellore on March 12 to drop his friend from a NEET coaching institute in Hyderabad and got stuck there.

Fearing she would be dissuaded from her mission if she revealed her idea, Rajia Begum set out with a pack of rotis and a 5 litre petrol can on the morning of April 6 and reached Nellore the following day.

She travelled all alone even at night via Kamareddy, Gajwel, Nalgonda, Addanki and Ongole. Concern over the safety of her son overtook her fear of loneliness while traversing State and National Highways.

Her daily drive of 25 km to and from the Mandal Parishad Primary School in Salampad for several years made the teacher a seasoned rider.

Armed with a letter from ACP Jaipal Reddy and a Google map, she hit the highway. “I had to undergo problems en route as food was not available. I took only fruits and relaxed for a few minutes intermittently. I managed to reach Nellore early on April 7. On the return, I dared to travel at night as my son was with me. So, we started our journey at 4 p.m. and reached Bodhan on Wednesday around 3 p.m.”

“My story has gone viral on social media after one of my colleagues posted it on WhatsApp. On the way back home, mediapersons at Kamareddy hosted lunch for us,” she said.

Frustrated patient breaks window glass at ESI Hospital

11/04/2020, STAFF REPORTER,COIMBATORE

A COVID-19 positive patient undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College and ESI Hospital here broke a window glass at the isolation ward allegedly out of frustration after he was not allowed to eat the dish brought by his wife on Friday.

According to the police, the wife of the 27-year-old patient brought home-cooked chicken biriyani to the isolation ward at the first floor of the hospital on Friday afternoon. She was stopped outside the ward as the hospital said that food brought from outside was not allowed.

Out of alleged frustration, the man threw a fire extinguisher on the glass window and damaged it at around 5.45 p.m.

Hospital sources said that the patient did not suffer any injuries.

Based on a complaint by Resident Medical Officer K. Kulandaivelu, the Singanallur police registered a case against the patient under Section 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of Tamil Nadu Public Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act.

Action will be initiated after the patient completes the treatment, according to the police.

Rajasthan announces financial assistance for ‘corona warriors’

The Centre had announced a ₹50 lakh insurance cover for front-line health workers

11/04/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,JAIPUR

A medical team in curfew-bound Walled City of Jaipur on Friday.Rohit Jain Paras

In a major decision to help out “corona warriors”, the Congress government in Rajasthan on Friday announced a financial assistance of ₹50 lakh to the next of kin on the death of an employee performing the duties for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. The Centre had earlier announced a ₹50 lakh insurance cover solely for the frontline health workers.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the State government had expanded the purview of assistance to include regular and contractual employees as well as those getting honorarium for their work. The provision will cover all municipal and health workers, home guards, civil defence staff, Anganwadi centre workers and accredited social health activists.

Mr. Gehlot said at a videoconferencing with trade and industry representatives here that the State government would take an “appropriate decision” on lifting the lockdown while taking into account the issue of saving people’s lives. He said traders were playing an important role in maintaining the supply chain of essential commodities.

The State government also imposed a ban on spitting at public places after chewing of betel leaf, gutka and tobacco products to contain the spread of COVID-19. A notification of Medical & Health Department stated that this act would invite penal action under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of Indian Penal Code.

Additional Chief Secretary (Medical & Health) Rohit Kumar Singh said police officers performing duty in the curfew-bound areas, where COVID-19 positive cases had been detected, would be given measured doses of hydroxychloroquine for protection against infection. This had been recommended by the National Task Force for COVID-19, he said.

The number of COVID-19 positive cases in the State soared to 520 on Friday with 57 more cases detected in eight districts as well the Army's facilities.

Manamadurai circus artistes stranded in Panaiyur

11/04/2020, P.A. NARAYANI,MADURAI

Trapped: These circus artistes from Manamadurai are stuck in Panaiyur near Madurai because of the lockdown. G. Moorthy

For artistes of Kamala Circus, hailing from Manamadurai in Sivaganga district, summer is the time when they perform at many villages and earn a decent amount. They travel throughout Madurai, Sivaganga and Virudhunagar districts and conduct shows in villages. “Since we work only around eight months in a year, the money we earn during this period will see us through the rest of the year,” says R. Pandian, an artiste.

However, this summer has turned out to be a disaster for them. The last show they performed this summer was at Panaiyur near Madurai, on the day before the announcement of the nation-wide lockdown due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Since then the 10 artistes and their children have been stranded, staying inside tents at Panaiyur village, as they cannot go home. The cancellation of shows has affected their very means of livelihood.

These 10 artistes belong to around 500 families in four villages near Manamadurai - all circus artistes for generations. They go in groups, pitch camp in a village, perform there for a few days before returning to Manamadurai.

The 10 artistes stranded in Panaiyur had performed in Tirumangalam earlier. V. Ramu, an artiste, says the Panaiyur panchayat president and the villagers have been giving them rice, vegetables and other essential commodities. They use firewood for cooking.

“While we’ve been taken care of here, it is disheartening to hear from our families back home that they are running out of groceries. My mother, wife and I are circus artistes and send money to my three brothers and their families in Manamadurai. Now that we earn nothing after the lockdown, they are struggling to make both ends meet,” Mr. Ramu says.

Many of the artistes are worried about how they would repay loans they availed from money-lenders. “Also, it costs a huge sum to transport all the circus equipment back to Manamadurai by lorry. With no income, we do not know how we are going to reach home,” he says.

Additional Director of Panchayat A. Chelladurai says the district administration has been providing essential commodities to them. “We will also facilitate their transport, along with their circus equipment after the lockdown,” he says.