‘Only seniors advised to stay in’

‘Only seniors advised to stay in’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

06.06.2020

Bengaluru: The central government on Friday informed the Karnataka high court that as per guidelines issued on May 30 by the Union ministry of home affairs, only senior citizens were advised to stay at home.

Based on the submission, a division bench headed by Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka disposed of a PIL filed by BN Jayadeva, a 68-year-old advocate from Bengaluru. The petitioner had alleged curbs on the movement of senior citizens are discriminatory and seriously affected their fundamental right to live with dignity.

“If any person above 65 years of age goes outside for any important and/or unavoidable work or duty, they will not violate orders leading to prosecution under the Disaster Management Act 2005,” the central government stated in the memo filed in response to the PIL, which demanded removal of coronavirus-linked restrictions on senior citizens.

Clause 7 of the Centre’s guidelines for phased reopening (Unlock 1) suggests protection of vulnerable persons – people above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years. The guidelines advised them to stay at home, except for essential and health purposes

Beg, borrow or steal, but get laptop: Prof’s diktat goes viral

Beg, borrow or steal, but get laptop: Prof’s diktat goes viral

SruthySusan.Ullas@timesgroup.com

06.06.2020

Bengaluru: A video of a professor in an engineering college telling students “to beg, borrow or steal” a laptop if they don’t have one to attend online sessions has been widely shared on social media.

The video of an online class of civil engineering in MVJ College of Engineering (MVJCE) in Bengaluru shows the professor saying: “Education needs money. Don’t you need money for food? Does government always give you free food? To lead everyday life you need money. Why are you asking money separately for laptop? This is part of expenditure you have to incur for education. Don’t you have money to go to movies? Don’t ask irresponsible questions.”

Students said the college is insisting on laptops since the software used for exams is not compatible with smartphones. The video has drawn much ire from students and caused a commotion. It is a pointer to what parents are facing, with classes going online.

Access to laptops even among middle class families has become an issue. Many families have more than one child and both need laptops. “We are both working. How many gadgets can we buy?” said a parent.

2nd in 3 days: Plasma recipient is out of ICU

2nd in 3 days: Plasma recipient is out of ICU

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:  06.06.2020

A Covid-19 patient who was administered convalescent plasma therapy is making a quick recovery raising hopes of successful treatment. The 38-year-old woman treated at Trauma Care Centre in Victoria Hospital was given the therapy on May 27.

Her condition has improved and she was shifted out of ICU on Thursday. She is yet to test negative for Covid-19. She is the second recipient of plasma therapy in the Trauma Care Centre and third in the state.

On June 2, doctors in KIMS, Hubballi, claimed they had succeeded in giving plasma therapy to a 64-year-old and he had made a good recovery. On May 12, a 20-year-old man from AP treated at Bengaluru’s Trauma Care Centre was given plasma therapy, but he died.

Jayadeva study hints at herd immunity

Doctors at Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research said a surveillance study of 1,000 staffers indicated development of herd immunity to Covid-19. Over the fortnight, 10 of the staffers tested positive when antibody rapid testing kits were used and tested negative when they underwent the RT-PCR test. P 2

Woman treated with plasma therapy now on minimal oxygen support

Convalescent plasma therapy is seen as a hope for critically ill Covid-19 patients. The therapy is given using the blood plasma of a fully recovered Covid-19 patient.

The woman, who has poor sugar control history, was admitted to hospital in late May with severe acute respiratory infection and tested positive for Covid-19. “There has been a steady improvement in her condition. She was taken off the high-flow oxygen supply on June 2. At present, she is on minimal oxygen support and was shifted to the general ward on June 4,” said a hospital source.

Confirming the recovery, Dr CR Jayanthi, dean and director, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI), said the patient will be discharged soon as her recovery has been faster. BMCRI is a part of the convalescent plasma therapy clinical trial, approved by Drug Controller General of India, along with Bengalurubased cancer hospital HCG.

Udupi worst-hit district

Meanwhile, with 685 infections in all, Udupi is Karnataka’s worst-hit district.

Four districts in Karnataka — Udupi, Kalaburagi, Raichur and Yadgir — now have more than 300 active cases each in designated hospitals.

The number of people infected in the state so far is 4,835, of whom 3,088 are currently being treated in hospitals. Among the cases reported on Friday, 482 (94%) were inter-state travellers. Of these, 473 had returned from Maharashtra and three from Delhi.

Devotees can visit temples now, but with lot of caution

Devotees can visit temples now, but with lot of caution

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

 Bangalore 06.06.2020

With the virus keeping devotees away from religious places, it’s now time for the muchawaited darshan as restrictions are eased from Monday. Most popular shrines in the country are set to open, albeit with a lot of caution.

The Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain will open its doors on June 8 after being shut for 79 days. But devotees can’t just walk in. They have to book a slot via an app or a toll-free number a day in advance. “Devotees will be allowed to visit the temple between 6.30am and 8.15pm,” said S K Tiwari, assistant administrator of Mahakaleshwar Temple Management Committee, after a meeting on Friday. They will launch the app and helpline in time for people to start making bookings on Sunday.

However, devotees will not be allowed to attend Bhasmarti ritual or enter the sanctum sanctorum.

The Lord Venkateswara temple at Tirumala will also reopen on June 8 with unprecedented precautions. There will be a trial run from June 8 for two days in which only Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanams employees will be allowed. On June 10, TTD will allow only Tirumala residents. From June 11, devotees from across the country except from containment zones will be allowed. Only 6,000 devotees will be allowed per day with 500 devotees every hour.

Although the UP government will allow religious places to open from June 8, prominent shrines have different plans for unlocking. So while Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi will open on Monday, temple managements in Mathura have said they can't open until they get police protection. In Ayodhya, the famous Hanumangarhi will open on Monday and devotees can also resume darshan of Ram Lalla.

Prayagraj’s Bade Hanuman temple prepares to open Monday

Devotees to be barred from touching idols, holy books

Directions were issued by the state government on Friday that all religious places should have hand sanitizers, thermal scanners and pulse oxymeters at the entrance so that devotees can be scanned for temperature or low oxygen levels.

Nobody will be allowed to touch any idol or religious book inside the place of worship while no prasad will be distributed either.

In Odisha, those wanting to visit the Jagannath temple in Puri will have to wait longer with the temple managing committee proposing to the government to close the 12th century shrine till July 4.In Thrissur in Kerala, while nine marriages were held at the Guruvayur Temple on Friday, the temple is unlikely to be opened for Monday. Temple authorities said they would require more time to make arrangements, including preparation of crowd control plan.

Meanwhile, the Kerala unit of the Indian Medical Association on Friday opposed the opening of places of worship and malls.

Uncertainty also looms over famous annual yatras.

After priests at Badrinath wrote to the Uttarakhand CM to postpone the Chardham yatra for pilgrims till June 30, locals in the area have also called for measures “to keep the Char Dham free of Covid-19.”

Initially, Chamoli, Uttarkashi and Rudraprayag districts – which house the four revered shrines – had not reported a single Covid case. But the number has gone up after the migrant labourers began to return.

As uncertainty hovers over the annual Amarnath Yatra, the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board performed ‘Pratham Pujan, the first religious ritual. Board CEO said the yatra will be commencing but for a short period as compared to previous years.

Shrines across Maharashtra will not open on June 8. No date has been fixed by the state government either

Tenant turns violent as landlady lodges plaint

Tenant turns violent as landlady lodges plaint

TNN | Jun 5, 2020, 04.01 AM IST

Coimbatore: A video of woman in her 40s brandishing sickle and threatening her 70-year-old landlady went viral on social media on Thursday.

According to police, it was a complaint against her for not paying rent that provoked the tenant, identified as Jaya. She was one of the three people staying at the house that was rented out by Gnanamary, of Kalki Street in Rathinapuri.

An officer said a family of three – two women and a school girl – had approached Gnanamary on January 18, 2020, to rent her house. “The woman agreed to pay a security deposit of Rs 20,000 and a monthly rent of Rs 5,500. While she initially paid the landlady an advance of Rs 10,000, she failed to settle the remaining security deposit amount. She hasn’t also paid any rent so far.”

The woman, the officer said, used to abuse the landlady whenever she approached her for rent. “Finally, the tenant agreed to vacate the house on March 31. But they refused to shift, citing lockdown.”

On Wednesday, Gnanamary, along with her 85-year-old husband Mariyaprakasam, lodged a complaint with the Rathinapuri police against the tenant. When they returned home, Jaya threatened Gnanamary with the sickle. Immediately, the couple contacted the police control room and a team of police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

On Thursday, Gnanamary lodged another complaint with the Rathinapuri police against the tenant

Covid-19 patient arrested for threatening doctors in Salem hospital with knife

Covid-19 patient arrested for threatening doctors in Salem hospital with knife

TNN | Jun 4, 2020, 09.01 PM IST

SALEM: The Salem police in Tamil Nadu arrested a Covid-19 patient on Thursday for threatening doctors and nurses with a knife. He was later lodged in Salem Central Prison.

The patient has been identified as K Matheswaran, 40, of Mettur. He was working as an ambulance driver at Manipal Hospital in Karuppur. He was admitted to Salem Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital (SGMKMCH) for Covid-19 treatment on May 25.

SGMKMCH doctors said on Tuesday Matheswaran threatened duty doctors and nurses by showing a knife and demanded that they discharge him from the hospital. Doctors finally pacified him.

He got discharged from the hospital on Thursday evening. The residential medical officer (RMO) of SGMKMCH Dr Karuna lodged a complaint with out-post police station of the hospital on Thursday evening, based on which Matheswaran was arrested.

After Koyambedu, Ariyalur now faces fresh influx from hotspots

After Koyambedu, Ariyalur now faces fresh influx from hotspots

TNN | Jun 6, 2020, 04.02 AM IST

Trichy: Ariyalur district, which was hit by Covid-19 due to the Koyambedu cluster and recuperating slowly after having discharged 96% of the patients in the past month, is facing yet another challenge from the fresh influx of people returning from hotspots.

In the last two weeks, Ariyalur reported 15 positive cases (9 from Maharashtra, 6 from Chennai and 1 from Gujarat), all returnees from hotspots.

Acknowledging the need to shift focus from Koyambedu to people coming from hotspots, the Ariyalur district administration strengthened the check post bordering Perambalur and Cuddalore districts.

Six institutional quarantine centres were also established to isolate and test them.

“We are focussing on returnees from hotspots in other districts and states, and from abroad. They have to undergo mandatory quarantine for seven days at our quarantine centres,” Ariyalur district collector D Rathna told TOI.

People returning from hotspots like Chennai, Maharashtra and Gujarat were traced based on information shared from the Covid-19 control room.

A group of people returning from Chennai but not showing any symptoms was put under mandatory home quarantine for 14 days.

“People who are stranded at Chennai due to the lockdown are also returning. Since they avail e-pass, we can track them and quarantine,” the collector added.

Even if the returnees test negative, the health department will monitor their condition for seven consecutive days at the quarantine centres. Before discharging them, they will be tested again.

CUTN invites applications for the post of VC

CUTN invites applications for the post of VC

TNN | Jun 6, 2020, 04.06 AM IST

Trichy: The Central University of Tamil Nadu (CUTN), Tiruavrur, has invited applications for the post of vice-chancellor. June 16 is the last date to send the filled-in applications.

As the five-year tenure of the incumbent vice-chancellor A P Dash is getting over in August this year, the ministry of human resource and development has initiated the selection process for next vice-chancellor. Distinguished academicians with a minimum of 10 years of experience as professor in a university or 10 years of administrative experience in a reputed research or academic organisation can apply for the post. A committee constituted under the provisions of Central Universities Act, 2009 will shortlist eligible candidates who will be called for an interview. The interview process is most likely to be held online this year as the country is reeling under the Covid-19 pandemic, said officials from CUTN.

Excess passengers refuse to get down, crowd buses

Excess passengers refuse to get down, crowd buses

TNN | Jun 5, 2020, 04.56 AM IST

Tirunelveli: The buses heading from Papanasam, Tenkasi and Tuticorin to Tirunelveli are overcrowded in the morning and return trips in the evening even though the social distancing norms to prevent Covid-19 requires that only 60% seats should be occupied and nobody should be standing in the buses.

TNSTC drivers and conductors are facing the ire as passengers are picking quarrels with them when they ask the excess passengers to get down. “We have requested the superintendent of police of Tirunelveli district on Thursday to help us manage the crowd in select routes,” managing director of TNSTC Tirunelveli, P Thiruvampalam Pillai told TOI.

On Wednesday, buses were too crowded with some even clinging on to footboards. TNSTC officials said that most of the violators are government employees.

A daily commuter from Tenkasi to Tirunelveli said that only six buses were operated during the peak hour in the morning. It includes three point-to-point buses that take 90 to 95 minutes and three regular buses that take 120 minutes to reach the destination. “Frequency of direct buses should be increased,” Kumar, 42, a commuter said.

Pillai said Tirunelveli division operated 451 buses on Tuesday, 579 on Wednesday and 615 on Thursday.

Pvt libraries offer dial-a-book system

Pvt libraries offer dial-a-book system

Yogesh.Kabirdoss@timesgroup.com

Chennai:06.06.2020

Next time you drop in a neighbourhood library, the visit may be limited to collecting books reserved for you.

The pandemic has changed the experience of readers associated with private libraries as such institutions are gradually reopening.

Private libraries are beginning to introduce dial-a-book system or reserve-titles-online method whereby a member can call a library and reserve a book or visit the institution’s portal online to reserve a title. Later, the member can pick up the books at counters and need not have to spend more time on library premises. The outbreak of pandemic has brought in new challenges to ensure the safety of readers.

Chennai and its suburbs have 45 leading lending libraries besides several small ones with a collection of titles ranging from 8,000 to 10,000 and active membership of 200 to 400.

R Sasikala of Read n Rejoice, a library at Medavakkam, said a feature to reserve titles would be introduced on their library’s portal. “We already have a catalogue online. Now, our members can reserve their choices on our website and collect them at the library counter,” she said. Books returned will not be circulated for three days as part of safety measures, she added.

Some libraries may still allow members to search titles from racks but trim their timing. P Sathish Kumar, managing director of Easwari Lending Library, said to maintain social distancing only three members are allowed for a span of five minutes to search books at their library branches.

NEW RULES: Sri Raghavendra Library in Triplicane

Jipmer gets ICMR nod for plasma trial

Jipmer gets ICMR nod for plasma trial

Bosco.Dominique@timesgroup.com

06.06.2020

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has given Jipmer in Puducherry approval to begin a trial to assess the efficacy of the plasma of cured Covid-19 patients in fighting the novel coronavirus.

The institute has invited people who have recovered from Covid-19 to donate their plasma for the trial. Those interested can contact the department of transfusion medicine, Jipmer, through SMS or WhatsApp or call the department at 97872 4490. The institute will collect convalescent plasma from them if they are eligible to donate blood.

Jipmer associate professor (transfusion medicine) Dr B Abhishekh said the concept of plasma therapy involves using antibodies from recovered patients to treat Covid-19.

“Presently, there is no approved treatment for Covid-19 infection. Convalescent plasma, which is part of blood donated from the patient who has recovered from Covid-19, has been used in some patients globally with some benefit. The therapy may or may not improve the condition of Covid patients,” said Dr Abhishekh. He said all recovered patients aged between 18 and 65 can donate plasma. But women, who are pregnant or had been pregnant, are usually not considered for collection.

Donors must have completed a minimum of two weeks (14 days) after recovery.

Five test positive in Puducherry

Five more people tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday taking the total number of cases reported to 104 in the Union territory. Six patients recovered on Friday. At present, 62 patients are undergoing treatment in Puducherry. Fortyseven passengers are under quarantine in institutional facilities and 6,359 passengers are under home quarantine.

How TN attained high recovery rate

FIGHTING COVID - 19

How TN attained high recovery rate

Tamil Nadu Has So Far Cured 15,762 Patients, Which Is More Than 55% Of All The Patients Infected. The State Follows A Uniform Treatment Protocol At All Hospitals — Drugs To Manage Symptoms, Intense Monitoring Of Oxygen Levels And Supplementary Oxygen

Pushpa.Narayan@timesgroup.com

06.06.2020

As 861 people walked out of isolation units at hospitals across Tamil Nadu on Friday, the number of patients who have recovered from the viral infection touched 15,762. Though TN has the most infections after Maharashtra, the state has kept its mortality rate low and recovery rate high.

With more than 78,000 cases, Maharashtra has a mortality rate of 3.4% and a recovery rate of 43%, the figures are 0.81% and 55% for Tamil Nadu. Delhi, which has nearly 26,000 cases, has a cure rate of 40% and death rate of 2.6%.

Although Gujarat and Rajasthan have a recovery rate of 68% and 72% respectively, their death rate is 6.21% and 2.16%.

From triage to treatment, TN follows a uniform treatment protocol at all hospitals. Guidelines for clinical management prepared by a 17-member expert committee are sent to all hospitals, said Dr S Ragunanthan, head of general medicine at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH). Some hospitals tweak clinical management to suit the patient’s requirement.

Almost every day, doctors in government hospitals that treat more than 80% of the Covid-19 patients, share their experiences. The state protocols are periodically updated based on ICMR guidelines, international and local experiences. On Thursday, Tamil Nadu’s protocol was presented before a Central team. “Our doctors have told the central team how they manage patients inside the ward. Our aggressive testing, early diagnosis and intensive patient management are keys to this success,” Ragunanthan said.

“At emergency, we triage patients as mild, mild to moderate, and severe cases of the infection,” said hospital RGGGH dean Dr R Jayanthi said. “Treatment is simple – drugs for management of symptoms, intense monitoring of oxygen level and supplementary oxygen,” she said.

For instance, the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine has been a staple drug for almost all patients at government hospitals along with antibiotics such as azithromycin and steroids. However, some private hospitals don’t use it. “As of now there is no clarity on whether the drug is helpful or harmful. We don’t see a huge difference in death rates when patients are not being administered the drug either,” said Dr Subramanian Swaminathan, who treats Covid-19 patients at the Gleneagles Global Hospitals.

Nurses at all hospitals ensure that patients with breathing difficulties sleep on their stomach. “This improves oxygenation in patients. We offer them high flow oxygen, steroids and immune moderators. We avoid ventilators as much as possible,” said director of medical education Dr R Narayanababu.

Officials in the Covid control room said less than a dozen people were on ventilators. “There is growing number of vulnerable population including the elderly and people with chronic ailments getting infection. There are more people in the ICU requiring ventilation than before. This can push the death rate up in some time,” warns Apollo Hospitals infectious diseases expert Dr V Ramasubramanian. “But as of now, we are doing well in comparison to many other states,” he said.

More chronic disease patients test +ve, deaths go up in state

More chronic disease patients test +ve, deaths go up in state

Infection Rate Up, Doubling Time Falling

Pushpa.Narayan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:06.06.2020

Tamil Nadu reported more than 1,000 fresh Covid-19 positive cases for the sixth day in a row taking the total to 28,694. Twelve deaths, including two patients with chronic kidney disease, in 24 hours pushed the toll to 232. Chennai accounted for 1,116 of the 1,438 fresh cases on Friday.

While the infection rate is growing and doubling period — the time it takes for the cases to double — is dropping, what is worrying doctors is that a large number of patients are now from the older age groups, and hence more vulnerable.

“They have comorbidities including organ failure and dysfunction that pull down treatment outcomes and push up complications,” said Apollo Hospitals infectious diseases expert Dr V Ramasubramanian, who is a part of the state’s medical expert committee.

On Friday, eight of the 12 people who died were senior citizens , four in their 80s. The oldest was an 86-year-old woman from Chengalpet. Nine of the 43 deaths recorded so far this month were patients with renal failure.

19 kids of city govt home test positive

Twenty-three people, including 19 children, of a government children’s home at Tondiarpet tested positive for Covid-19. The infected are being treated at a communicable disease hospital in the zone. They are all stable and have only mild symptoms, say officials. The social defence home housed 81 children and 12 staff. P 2

Five ministers to fight virus in city

The state government on Friday appointed five ministers to oversee Covid-19 control work carried out by the city corporation. Of the 15 zones in the GCC, each minister has been vested with three zones and they would monitor the containment efforts by the corporation and the field support team, a government order said. P 8

City’s doubling period of cases down to 12 days

A senior nephrologist said: “Many people visiting dialysis rooms are now testing positive.” On Friday, a 50-year-old woman with chronic renal failure admitted to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital at 3.17am died at 3.55am.

The doubling period decreases when the infection increases. In the last six days, the state added 7,510 cases. Analysis by senior epidemiologists at the National Institute of Epidemiology, an ICMR institute in Chennai, shows the seven-day average doubling period, which was 16.19 days on May 30, dropped to 15.90, when Tamil Nadu recorded its first four-digit hike in daily cases on May  31. 

The period dropped to 13.97 days on Friday. Chennai, which added more than 3,000 cases in the last three days, now has a doubling period of 12 days, against 16 days on May  31.

The state tested 14,968 people on Friday, compared to 15,991 on Thursday, when it logged 1,384 cases. Yet, the state had 54 more cases on Friday.

The state, which is actively a part of the plasma therapy and solidarity trial, will partner with the ICMR for the BCG vaccine trial that aims to protect the vulnerable, health minister C Vijayabaskar said.

Of the 1,438 fresh cases, 1,405 were indigenous cases and 33 were categorised “imported” as returnees from other countries and states continued to test positive. The 33 included 12 international passengers – five from Dubai and six from Qatar. One passenger from Sri Lanka, who came by sea, tested positive. Fourteen passengers from Delhi and four from Maharashtra also tested positive.

At the end of the day, 861 walked out of the hospital, taking the number of those cured in the state to 15,762, which is a recovery rate of 55%.

The health condition of 61-yearold DMK MLA J Anbazhagan, who was tested positive for Covid-19, continues to remain critical, according to doctors at the Dr Rela’s Institute and Medical Centre.

Of the 1,438 fresh cases, 1,405 were indigenous cases and 33 were categorised “imported” as returnees from other countries and states continued to test positive. The 33 included 12 international passengers – five from Dubai and six from Qatar. One passenger from Sri Lanka, who came by sea, tested +ve

Record 295 die in a day; India may become world’s 5th worst hit today

Record 295 die in a day; India may become world’s 5th worst hit today

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:06.06.2020

India witnessed its highest single-day death toll in the Covid-19 pandemic so far, with 295 fatalities reported on Friday, while the count of fresh infections remained over 9,000 for the second straight day.

With this, the country’s total number of Covid-19 cases went past Italy’s count of 2,34,531, taking India to the sixth spot among countries with the highest caseloads of the virus. India’s cumulative count of Covid-19 cases stood at 2,36,117 (after adding 7,610 cases not assigned to any state, as per the health ministry website), according to data from state governments.

Deaths from the virus zoomed on Friday after Maharashtra reported as many as 139 fatalities, a bulk of the deaths having occurred earlier. Likewise, Delhi reported 58 deaths and Gujarat 35, while Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh counted 12 each and Bengal reported 11.

Given current trends, India is set to rise to the fifth place in the list of Covid-hit countries on Saturday, overtaking Spain.

For the second consecutive day, India had Thursday reported the third highest number of new cases in the world, ahead of Russia and behind just Brazil and the US.

Among states, Maharashtra continued to report by far the highest number of fresh infections at 2,436, though the number was nearly 500 less than the count on Thursday.

At least six states — Tamil Nadu (1,438 new cases), Gujarat (510), Uttar Pradesh (502), Bengal (427), Chhattisgarh

(106) and Jharkhand (96) — registered their highest single-day rise in cases.

Kerala sees surge in cases

Besides, the surge in infections continued in Delhi, which recorded 1,330 fresh cases, Haryana (316), Madhya Pradesh (234), J&K

(182) and Rajasthan (222). The 139 deaths reported by Maharashtra was its highest singleday toll so far since the outbreak. With this addition, Maharashtra's total death toll was 2849. In the last three days, the state has reported a total of 384 deaths. As per the state government, of the 139 deaths reported on Friday, 27 deaths have occurred in the last two days, while the remaining 112 deaths were from April 21to June 2.

Maharashtra added 2436 new cases on Friday and breached the 80,000 mark for cases and had a total of 80,229 cases. Mumbai equalled its record of highest number of Covid deaths in a 24-hour period with 54 fatalities reported on Friday. The civic officials announced that the doubling rate of the viral cases had improved to 20 days from 12 days on May

15. Gujarat in 24 hours ending 5pm on Friday recorded 510 cases – or one case every three minutes. This was the highest single-day case tally registered so far. The total coronavirus cases in the state has now climbed to 19,119. The state health department bulletin mentioned that 35 Covid-19 patients succumbed to the infection or co-morbidities in the last 24 hours, taking the death tollto1,190.Thedeathsincluded 30 from Ahmedabad, two from Surat and one each from Anand, Bhavnagar and Surat. It was the highest single-day death toll since May18.

Kerala for the first time crossed the three-digit mark in the number of positivecaseson asingleday,with as many as111 positive cases reported on Friday. Taking into account the seriousness of the situation, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the state government had decided to begin rapid antibody testsfrom Saturday for which the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had supplied14,000 kits.

‘Pursue higher studies after executing bank guarantee’

‘Pursue higher studies after executing bank guarantee’

06/06/2020, STAFF REPORTER,MADURAI

The State government informed the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that it has decided to permit medical practitioners, who have not yet completed the period of compulsory service under the bond executed by them, to pursue higher studies on condition that they shall furnish a bank guarantee equivalent to the bond amount.

Following the execution of the bank guarantee equivalent to the bond amount for the period of higher studies, the original documents of the medical practitioners would be returned for that period on the understanding that it would be re-submitted on reporting for duty to complete the required period of compulsory service, the State said.

The court was hearing the petition filed by K. Gautham who completed his MBBS in 2013. He sought the return of his original certificates so that he could pursue further studies in DNB (Post-Diploma). He executed a bond for ₹20 lakh so that it could be encashed by authorities concerned, if he failed to join duty after completion of the course.

Taking cognisance of the fact that the original certificates were returned to Gautham, Justice P.D. Audikesavalu disposed of the petition directing the petitioner to re-submit the original certificates to the authorities concerned when he reports for duty, after completing higher studies. A posting order should be issued to him, the court said.

Following this, the petitioner shall be entitled to apply to the court for refund of the amount deposited with accrued interest. In the event of the petitioner failing to report for duty after the completion of the course, it is open to the authorities concerned to apply to the court for encashing the deposited amount for non-compliance of bond conditions, the court said.

The way ahead for colleges

The way ahead for colleges

06/06/2020, STAFF REPORTER,MADURAI

Financial setback owing to COVID-19 would be felt more by private colleges in semi-urban and rural areas, said M. Palaninatha Raja, Dean, Planning and Development, Thiagarajar College of Engineering.

He said here recently that people all over the world had been calling for refund of partial tuition fee and accommodation fee and adjustment of fee with their respective institutions. The colleges must come up with creative solutions

“Though students do not have access to high speed Internet and uninterrupted power supply, there has been increased access to digital learning at a low cost,” he said.

“It is the high time all institutions compulsorily trained their faculty members in this domain. Hybrid or blended learning proved that remote digital learning is a viable and cost-effective solution for certain courses,” he said.

Institutions can also engage subject experts from different parts of the world to enrich the learning experience. They can collaborate with organisations and industries and co-create courses and allow their employees to pursue some degrees at discounted fees. Shared educational services by making collaborative efforts would reduce the overheads, he said.

Students should also be given remote internship to facilitate remote mentoring and counselling. This will aid their upskilling and reskilling in a cost-effective way, he said.

Special e-pass likely for transit air passengersFlyers will be able to avail of the facility before arrival

Special e-pass likely for transit air passengersFlyers will be able to avail of the facility before arrival

06/06/2020, SUNITHA SEKAR,CHENNAI

Air passengers who transit through Chennai may soon have to get a special transit e-pass from the Tamil Nadu government.

Every day, on an average, 3,000-3,500 passengers travel through Chennai airport.

Of these, there are many transit passengers — ones who arrive from a city at Chennai airport, spend some time, and then take a flight to another city.

After domestic flights resumed, many passengers stopping over at Chennai airport have had a slew of queries about whether they need to acquire the regular Tamil Nadu e-pass or stay at a quarantine facility.

“We have been considering bringing out the special e-pass option for passengers having Chennai airport as transit.

Discussion held

“They can get this before arriving in Chennai. We had an elaborate discussion with the airport officials recently,” a source in the State government said.

Officials of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) said that they have also been asked to earmark a space at the airport for transit passengers, especially if the wait is within six hours.

Can stay in hotel

For passengers whose transit time is beyond six hours, they can stay at one of the hotels identified by the State government till it is time for their next flight.

“Sometimes, passengers have to stay for a day in Chennai as their flight may only be on the next day. In such cases, any passenger whose transit time is over six hours can stay in the hotels we have identified. We have already spoken to some of the hotels in this regard,” the source added.

No quarantine

Besides, transit passengers need not be quarantined in the city.

“They have to be in quarantine only after reaching their final destination,” an official explained

COVID-19 can’t spread by touch: panel to HCCourt passes interim order directing airlines to allow passengers to occupy middle seat

COVID-19 can’t spread by touch: panel to HCCourt passes interim order directing airlines to allow passengers to occupy middle seat

06/06/2020, SONAM SAIGAL,MUMBAI

Taking a break: Air India aircraft at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai on Friday.Prashant NakwePrashant Nakwe

The Bombay High Court on Friday passed an interim order directing flight operators to allow passengers to occupy the middle seat.

A Division Bench of Justices S.J. Kathawalla and S.P. Tavade was hearing a petition filed by Air India pilot Deven Kanani. In his plea, Mr. Kanani said the airline was flouting guidelines by not keeping middle seats vacant in special Vande Bharat flights bringing back Indian citizens stranded abroad.

An expert panel of the Ministry of Civil Aviation on Friday submitted a note to the High Court stating that COVID-19 does not spread by mere touch of a person who is a carrier of the novel coronavirus.

The court on Thursday had asked the panel to issue a clarification. The note said the novel coronavirus virus can be transmitted by touch only under certain circumstances like when an infected person’s droplets from nose or mouth (coughing or sneezing) comes in contact with a surface or clothes and another person comes in contact with the surface and then touches his or her nose, eyes or mouth.

The note added, “If an infected person merely touches a non-infected person the virus will not be transmitted. Transmission has to take place through droplets carrying the virus and the same reaching mouth, nose or eyes of the other person.”

The note said, “If an infected person is wearing a protective gown and a non-infected person is sitting next to him/her, even if the infected person’s clothes have the virus on it, the protective gown would insulate this person and if the neighbouring person inadvertently touches the gown, this person will not be infected as the gown would provide the necessary shield.”

The court had asked the Centre to provide data of passengers who tested negative for COVID-19 when they boarded the flights, but tested positive after arriving in India. On Thursday, Air India filed an affidavit that from May 7 to June 1 they undertook 423 flights with 58,867 passengers, of which 248 had tested positive.

Secretariat employees undergoing screening test for coronavirusDrive follows

Secretariat employees undergoing screening test for coronavirusDrive follows 

one staff member, a Hyderabad returnee, testing positive

06/06/2020, STAFF REPORTER,

VIJAYAWADA

All the Secretariat employees are undergoing COVID-19 test with one of them testing positive for the virus five days ago. The government has made arrangements for the same.

While the employees working in Blocks 1, 2, and 3 had undergone the test, those working in Block 4 underwent the process on Friday.

In all, there are five blocks in the Secretariat, and the drive is expected to be completed in a day or two.

The exercise follows an appeal made by Secretariat Employees’ Association president K. Venkatrami Reddy to screen all the staff members as a precautionary measure. All the 2,500-odd employees (regular, contract and outsourcing) spread over the five blocks will be screened under the drive.

After an employee of the Agriculture Department tested positive on June 1, Blocks 3 and 4 were kept out of bounds for the employees and sanitised. The employees working in the department were asked to work from home.

The employee who had tested positive was among the other employees who returned to Amaravati from Hyderabad on May 27 by one of the specially arranged buses.

The State government, in a GO dated May 18, had made 100% attendance mandatory in all the government offices that were not located in the containment areas. However, pregnant women and employees with high-risk health conditions were permitted to work from home.

Decision on medical exams taken after consultations’Medical Education

Decision on medical exams taken after consultations’Medical Education 

Minister Amit Deshmukh says three alternatives are available for safe conduct of exams

06/06/2020, SHOUMOJIT BANERJEE,PUNE

Amit Deshmukh

The decision to hold undergraduate and postgraduate examinations of the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) was taken only after detailed discussions with apex medical bodies, State Medical Education Minister Amit Deshmukh said on Friday.

He said a detailed programme would be issued soon and assured that adequate arrangements would be made in every district to ensure that students do not have to travel far to appear for these exams.

Mr. Deshmukh, who was in Pune to review the COVID-19 situation, said he met with Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, who is the Chancellor of all universities in the State, after the Nashik-based MUHS submitted a detailed report on the feasibility of holding the exams after July 15.

Incidentally, the State government’s Technical and Higher Education Ministry had earlier decided not to conduct the exams.

Mr. Deshmukh, however, clarified that there was no hitch in the functioning of the government despite the contradictory stance on the conduct of the exams by the two ministries.

“The curricula of both ministries — Technical and Higher Education, and Medical Education — are different as are their central councils and universities. They are following their own guidelines, while we are adhering to ours,” Mr. Deshmukh said.

In an earlier letter to the Governor, Mr. Deshmukh had said that MUHS has unanimously decided to conduct all its summer examinations as per three alternative plans, depending on the situation, from July 15.

The theory examinations would be held between July 15 and August 15 in a staggered manner if the situation was conducive. In case exams cannot be held as per the first plan, they would be conducted between August 16 and September 15.

If the exams cannot be held as per above plans, the MUSH will take guidance from the Central Medical Council on how to conduct the examinations, including through the online medium.

Meanwhile, Mr. Deshmukh, who met with senior district administration authorities, said there was a decline in the number of active positive cases in Mumbai, Pune and other cities.

He said while the situation in Pune was under control, Mumbai, despite rising cases, was faring better than most other cities in the world.

“Around 80 labs are operating in the State for testing samples at present. More labs are being added. We are trying to standardise protocols and SOPs (standard operating procedures) across hospitals in the State,” he said, adding that he was of the opinion that some form of rating should be given to each hospital so that patients are aware if their infrastructure was up to the mark or not.

Government office protocol announced

Government office protocol announced

06/06/2020,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has announced the health protocol to be followed at government offices as they inch their way to full functionality from June 9. The public should transact business with the government as far as possible through electronic means. Visitors at the government offices would be screened for flu symptoms. Official drivers from containment zones should not report for work. Official vehicles should be sanitised, and all staff members should mandatorily wear masks.

Rethink staff deployment policy during pandemic: Secretariat Assn.TANSA says all employees are forced to attend office daily

Rethink staff deployment policy during pandemic: Secretariat Assn.TANSA says all employees are forced to attend office daily

06/06/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

With around 25 Secretariat employees testing positive for COVID-19, the Tamil Nadu Secretariat Association (TANSA) has urged Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami to rethink the staff deployment policy during the pandemic.

It earlier urged the government to revert to working with 33% staff strength in each department instead of 50%. In a letter to the Chief Minister, TANSA president S. Peter Antonysamy charged that despite orders being issued to departments that staff will have to work on a rotational basis, many employees were being forced to report to work daily.

“In the Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Department, all employees are being forced to come to work daily. In some departments, office assistants, stenographers, personal staff of secretaries are forced to come to work every day. If this continues, the spread of the virus will increase,” he said.

A copy of the TANSA’s letter was released to the media. The TANSA said departments must function as per protocols issued in the Government Order.

Departments must be advised to not force office assistants, stenographers and personal staff of secretaries to come to work daily. It demanded that employees living in coronavirus hotspots should not be deployed till the COVID-19 lockdown ends.

The TANSA requested the government to consider the isolation period of employees who test positive for COVID-19 as Special Casual Leave. The offices in the Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai must be modified to provide ventilation as air conditioners were not allowed.

The TANSA also asked the government to make travel arrangements for employees.

மூன்று மாதம் வாடகை வசூல் கூடாது அரசு உத்தரவு பிறப்பிக்க கோரி வழக்கு

மூன்று மாதம் வாடகை வசூல் கூடாது அரசு உத்தரவு பிறப்பிக்க கோரி வழக்கு

Added : ஜூன் 04, 2020 00:32

சென்னை 'மூன்று மாதங்களுக்கு வாடகை வசூலிக்கக் கூடாது' என, அரசு உத்தரவு பிறப்பிக்க கோரி, சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தில் மனு தாக்கல் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது.

சென்னையை சேர்ந்த, வழக்கறிஞர், சார்லஸ் அலெக்சாண்டர் என்பவர் தாக்கல் செய்த மனு:ஊரடங்கு உத்தர வால், தனியார் நிறுவனங்கள், வணிக நிறுவனங்கள் மூடப்பட்டன. இங்கு பணியாற்றும் ஊழியர்களுக்கும், வேலை இல்லை. அவர்களுக்கு, ஊரடங்கு காலத்தில் சம்பளம் வழங்கப்படவில்லை. அதனால், மாத வாடகை செலுத்த முடியாத நிலையில் உள்ளனர்.வாடகைக்கு இருப்பவர்களிடம், மாத வாடகை வசூலிக்க வேண்டாம் என தெரிவித்தும், வீட்டு உரிமை யாளர்கள் வற்புறுத்துகின்றனர்.

டில்லியில், வாடகைதாரர்களுக்கான வாடகை தொகையை, அம்மாநில அரசே செலுத்துவதாக கூறியது. தமிழகத்தில் அப்படி எந்த சலுகையும் இல்லை.ஒரு மாத வாடகையை வசூலிக்க வேண்டாம் என, மார்ச், 29, 30ல், மத்திய, மாநில அரசுகள் உத்தரவு பிறப்பித்தன. அதன்பின், ஊரடங்கு பலமுறை நீட்டிக்கப்பட்டு விட்டது. ஒரு மாதம் என்பது போதுமானது அல்ல. மூன்று மாதங்கள் வரை நீட்டிக்கப்பட வேண்டும்.அரசு பிறப்பித்த உத்தரவுகள் அமல்படுத்தப்படவில்லை. வாடகை வசூலிப்பு குறித்து புகார்கள் அளித்தும், எந்த நடவடிக்கையும் இல்லை.

மூன்று மாதங்களுக்கு வாடகை வசூலிக்கக் கூடாது என்று உத்தரவிடக்கோரி, அரசுக்கு மனு அனுப்பினேன்; எந்த நடவடிக்கையும் இல்லை.எனவே, ஊரடங்கு உத்தரவு கருதி, மூன்று மாதங்களுக்கு வாடகை வசூலிக்கக் கூடாது என, அரசு உத்தரவு பிறப்பிக்க வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு, மனுவில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

பொய் செய்தியை நம்பாதீர்கள்:ஆவின் நிர்வாகம் வேண்டுகோள்

பொய் செய்தியை நம்பாதீர்கள்:ஆவின் நிர்வாகம் வேண்டுகோள்

Added : ஜூன் 04, 2020 02:09

சென்னை; தொழில் போட்டியாளர்கள் மற்றும் சமூக விரோதிகள், ஆவின் குறித்து பரப்புகிற பொய் செய்தியை, பொது மக்கள் நம்ப வேண்டாம்' என, ஆவின் நிர்வாகம், வேண்டுகோள் விடுத்து உள்ளது.

ஆவின் நிர்வாகம் வெளியிட்டுள்ள அறிக்கை:கொரோனா நோய் தொற்றை எதிர்த்து போராடி, மக்களுக்கு தரமான பாலை, ஆவின் நிர்வாகம் வழங்கி வருகிறது. இந்நிலையில், சென்னை, மாதவரம் பால் பண்ணையில், 250 தொழிலாளர்களுக்கு, கொரோனா தொற்று என்ற, பொய்யான செய்தி பரவி வருகிறது. இது, மிகவும் வேதனை அளிக்கிறது.மாதவரம் பால் பண்ணையில் பணிபுரியும், 300 தொழிலாளர்களில், ௧௦ பேருக்கு நோய் தொற்று இருந்தது கண்டறியப்பட்டது. அவர்கள் மருத்துவமனையில் சேர்க்கப்பட்டனர். பலர் குணமடைந்து, பணிக்கு திரும்பி உள்ளனர்; ஒருவர் சிகிச்சை பலனின்றி இறந்தார்.அவர் இறப்பு, மிகப்பெரிய சோகத்தை கொடுத்தாலும், மக்களுக்காக எங்கள் கடமையை செய்து கொண்டிருக்கிறோம்.

அரசு வழிகாட்டுதலை கடைப்பிடித்து, தரமான பாலை, குறிப்பிட்ட நேரத்தில் அளிக்க, முழு மூச்சாக வேலை செய்து வருகிறோம்.எனவே, தொழில் போட்டியாளர்கள் மற்றும் சமூக விரோதிகள் பரப்புகிற பொய் செய்தியை, பொது மக்கள் நம்ப வேண்டாம். தொடர்ந்து ஆவினுக்கு, ஆதரவு அளிக்க வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு, அதில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

ஆயுள் சான்று வழங்க ஓய்வூதியர்களுக்கு சலுகை

ஆயுள் சான்று வழங்க ஓய்வூதியர்களுக்கு சலுகை

Added : ஜூன் 04, 2020 00:18

சென்னை; 'ஓய்வூதியதாரர்கள், தாங்கள் ஓய்வூதியம் பெறும் வங்கி கிளைகளில், ஆயுள் சான்றை, வரும் செப்டம்பர் மாதம் வரை வழங்கலாம்' என, தமிழக மின் வாரியம் தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

தமிழக மின் வாரியத்தில் பணிபுரிந்து, ஒரு லட்சத்துக்கும் அதிகமானோர் ஓய்வு பெற்றுள்ளனர். ஓய்வுபெற்ற ஊழியர்கள் மற்றும் உயிரிழந்த ஊழியர்களின் குடும்பத்தினர், மாதம்தோறும் ஓய்வூதியம் பெற்று வருகின்றனர். அவர்கள், உயிருடன் இருப்பதற்கான, ஆயுள் சான்றை, ஆண்டுதோறும் ஏப்ரல், மே, ஜூன் மாதங்களில், வங்கி கிளைகளுக்கு, நேரடியாக சென்று வழங்க வேண்டும்.

ஜூன், 30ம் தேதிக்குள் வழங்காதவர்களின் விபரங்கள், சம்பந்தப்பட்ட வங்கி கிளைகளில் இருந்து, மின் வாரியத்திற்கு அனுப்பப்படும். அவர்களுக்கு ஓய்வூதியம் நிறுத்தப்படும். பின், ஆயுள் சான்று வழங்கியதும், மீண்டும் ஓய்வூதியம் வழங்கப்படும்.மார்ச் இறுதியில் இருந்து, ஊரடங்கு அமல்படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதனால், ஓய்வூதியதாரர்களால், தங்களின் ஆயுள் சான்றை, ஜூலை, ஆகஸ்ட், செப்டம்பர் மாதம் வரை, வங்கி கிளைகளில் வழங்கலாம் என, மின் வாரியம் தெரிவித்துள்ளது. அதன்படி, வழங்காதவர்களுக்கு, நவம்பர் முதல் ஓய்வூதியம் நிறுத்தப்படும் என, தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

சென்னையில் கொரோனாவுக்கான சித்தா சிகிச்சை மையம் துவக்கம்

சென்னையில் கொரோனாவுக்கான சித்தா சிகிச்சை மையம் துவக்கம்

Updated : ஜூன் 04, 2020 02:18 | Added : ஜூன் 04, 2020 02:16 

சென்னை; கொரோனா பாதிப்புக்கு, பாரம்பரிய சித்த மருத்துவத்தில் நல்ல பலன் கிடைத்து வருவதால், தனித்த சித்தா சிகிச்சை அளிப்பதற்கான சிறப்பு மையம், சென்னையில் நேற்று துவக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. சென்னை மாநகராட்சியும், சித்தா டாக்டர்களும் இணைந்து, இந்த முயற்சியை மேற்கொண்டுள்ளனர்.

சென்னையில், கொரோனா வைரஸ் தொற்றின் தீவிரம், நாளுக்கு நாள் அதிகரித்து வருகிறது. தொற்றால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டவர்களுக்கு, அலோபதி மற்றும் சித்தா இணைந்து அளித்த, கூட்டு மருந்து சிகிச்சைக்கு நல்ல பலன் கிடைத்தது.இதன் தொடர்ச்சியாக, பாதிப்பு அதிகமுள்ள கோடம்பாக்கம் மண்டலத்தில், கோயம்பேடு; ராயபுரம் மண்டலத்தில், ராயபுரத்தின் ஐந்து பகுதிகள் தேர்வு செய்யப்பட்டு, சித்தா டாக்டர் வீரபாபு குழுவினரால், கப சுர குடிநீர், மூலிகை தேநீர் தொடர்ந்து வழங்கப்பட்டு வந்தது.இந்த பகுதிகளில், தொற்று பாதிப்பு பெருமளவு குறைந்துஉள்ளது.

ஆய்வு செய்தார்

இதையடுத்து, கொரோனா பாதிப்பு உள்ளோருக்கு, சித்த மருத்துவ சிகிச்சை மட்டும் அளிக்க, அரசு அனுமதி வழங்கியது. இதற்காக, சென்னை, சாலிகிராமத்தில் உள்ள தனியார் கல்லுாரியில், சித்த மருத்துவ சிகிச்சை அளிப்பதற்கான மையத்தை, சென்னை மாநகராட்சி அமைத்து உள்ளது.இங்கு, 200 நோயாளிகளுக்கு சிகிச்சை அளிக்கும் வகையில், வசதிகள் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளன. மேலும், 400 நோயாளிகளுக்கு சிகிச்சை அளிக்கும் வகையில் ஏற்பாடுகள் செய்யப்பட்டு வருகின்றன.இந்த மையம் நேற்று செயல்பாட்டுக்கு வந்தது. இந்த மையத்தை, கொரோனா தடுப்பு சிறப்பு அதிகாரி ராதாகிருஷ்ணன் துவக்கி வைத்து, ஆய்வு செய்தார்.நிகழ்ச்சியில், மூத்த சித்தா டாக்டர் ஜெயபிரகாஷ் நாராயணன், தாம்பரத்தில் உள்ள, தேசிய சித்தா ஆராய்ச்சி மைய இயக்குனர் மீனாகுமாரி, டாக்டர் வீரபாபு உள்ளிட்டோர் பங்கேற்றனர்.

சிகிச்சை குறித்து, சித்தா டாக்டர் வீரபாபு கூறியதாவது:கொரோனா தொற்றால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டவர்களுக்கு, ஆங்கில மருத்துவத்துடன், சித்த மருத்துவமும் சேர்ந்த, கூட்டு சிகிச்சைக்கு நல்ல பலன் கிடைத்து உள்ளது. இதையடுத்து, நோயாளிகளின் விருப்பத்திற்கு ஏற்ப, தனித்த சித்தா சிகிச்சை அளிக்கும் வகையில், பிரத்யேக மையம் துவக்கப்பட்டுஉள்ளது.சூரியக் குளியல் தாம்பரம் தேசிய சித்தா ஆராய்ச்சி நிறுவனம், அரும்பாக்கம் அரசு சித்த மருத்துவமனை மருத்துவர்கள் இணைந்து, சிகிச்சையை துவக்கி உள்ளனர்.

முதற்கட்டமாக, கொரோனா தொற்றால் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட, 17 நபர்களுக்கு சிகிச்சை அளிக்கப்படுகிறது. மேலும், 100 பேர் வர உள்ளனர். இங்கு சிகிச்சைக்கு வருவோருக்கு, கப சுர குடிநீர், சிறப்பு மூலிகை தேநீர் வழங்கப்படும். பின், மூலிகை ஆவி பிடிக்கப்படும். மேலும், காலை, 7:00 முதல், 8:00 மணி வரை; மாலை, 4:00 முதல், 5:00 மணி வரையும், சூரிய குளியலில் ஈடுபடுவர்.அப்போது, மூச்சு பயிற்சி அளிக்கப்படும். தொடர்ந்து கொள்ளு ரசம், கற்பூரவள்ளி ரசம் என, பாரம்பரிய உணவுகள் வழங்கப்படும். காரம், புளி அதிகமில்லாத உணவுகள் வழங்கப்படும்.

மத்திய அரசின், 'தேசிய ஆயுஷ்' அமைச்சகத்தின் அனுமதி பெற்ற மருந்துகள், நோயாளிகளின் அறிகுறிகளுக்கு ஏற்ப வழங்கப்படும்.அவசர சிகிச்சைதொற்றால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டவர்கள், தங்கள் பகுதி மாநகராட்சி சுகாதார அதிகாரிகளிடம், தனித்த சித்த மருத்துவ சிகிச்சை எடுக்க வேண்டும் என, விருப்பம் தெரிவித்தால், அவர்கள் உரிய பாதுகாப்புடன், இந்த மையத்திற்கு அழைத்து வரப்படுவர்.

அவசர சிகிச்சை தேவைப்பட்டால், அதற்கான ஏற்பாடுகளும் செய்யப்பட்டு உள்ளன. ஆரம்ப கட்டத்திலேயே, சித்த மருத்துவ சிகிச்சையை எடுத்துக் கொண்டால், தீவிர கட்டத்திற்கு செல்லாமல் தடுக்க முடியும்.இவ்வாறு, அவர் கூறினார்.

How a misaligned computer print out cost LIC dearly

How a misaligned computer print out cost LIC dearly

The document mentioned the maturity amount as Rs. 62.50 lakh and believing this to be the case, Subramanian had paid monthly premium of Rs 31,153 for eight long years.

Published: 02nd June 2020 10:23 PM | Last Updated: 02nd June 2020 10:23 PM |

By Siva Sekaran

Express News Service

CHENNAI: A misaligned computer print out of a policy document has cost the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India a few lakhs.

The curious case disposed by the Madras High Court on Monday revolved around a policy document issued in 2010 by the Royapettah branch of LIC to a Chennai resident P Subramanian.

The document mentioned the maturity amount as Rs. 62.50 lakh and believing this to be the case, Subramanian had paid monthly premium of Rs 31,153 for eight long years.

Much to his shock, at the fag end of the policy, in July 2018, the LIC informed him that the maturity amount mentioned in the document is a clerical error. He was told that the actual maturity amount is only Rs 14.92 lakh. This was when Subramanian had paid R s31.77 lakh over eight years by way of monthly premiums.

Aggrieved by this, Subramanian moved the Madras high court seeking Rs 62.50 lakh from the LIC. His counsel Sundar Mohan argued that as his client had remitted the premiums regularly every month without any default for eight long years, he was entitled to receive the "agreed" maturity amount of Rs. 62.50 lakh in full.

The counsel of the LIC argued that Rs 62.50 lakh was actually the "Death Benefit Sum Assured", where as the maturity amount at the end of the policy is only Rs 14.92 lakh. It was argued that "due to  misalignment of the computer printer while filling up the blank columns in the Policy Schedule the numbers were not properly entered in the relevant columns". The LIC's counsel argued that the column for `Maturity Sum Assured’ was in fact left blank in the policy document.

Justice P D Audikesavalu, in his order on Monday, observed that the case was "peculiar situation" and that both the parties have failed to act with diligence. The judge pointed out that many columns in the  document were left blank. The petitioner claimed that the maturity amount was Rs 62.50 lakh, which was one of the two figures entered in the Policy Schedule. The LIC asserted that it should be only Rs 14.92  lakh.

The judge said that neither of the parties produced any other material other than the policy document to substantiate their conflicting versions. 

The court also observed that it cannot also be lost sight of the fact that the LIC has sought correction in the value of the maturity amount only after eight long years. By this time the petitioner had made periodical payments of premium of Rs 31,153 per month aggregating to a substantial sum of Rs 31.77 lakh without even raising any query about the blanks in some of the columns in the Policy Schedule.

The court observed that "LIC had received the unintended monetary advantage at the cost of divesting Subramanian of the use of his legitimate money during that period."

Hence, to compensate, the court directed LIC to repay Rs 31.77 lakh Subramanian had paid as installments over last eight years and also annual interest of Rs 7.5 per cent from the respective dates on which each of the installments had been remitted.

Bad printout costs LIC lakhs

Bad printout costs LIC lakhs

The Royapettah branch of the insurer had issued a policy document to one P Subramanian in 2010, in which the maturity amount was mentioned as Rs 62.5 lakh.

Published: 03rd June 2020 06:07 AM | Last Updated: 03rd June 2020 06:07 AM | A+A A-

By Siva Sekaran

Express News Service

CHENNAI: A good computer printout does not cost more than Rs 10. But a bad one has cost the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India a few lakhs. The interesting case was disposed by the Madras High Court on Monday. The Royapettah branch of the insurer had issued a policy document to one P Subramanian in 2010, in which the maturity amount was mentioned as Rs 62.5 lakh.

Subramanian had been paying a monthly premium of whopping Rs 31,153 for eight long years, thinking the maturity amount was way over Rs 60 lakh. Much to his shock, he was informed at the fag end of the policy, in July 2018, that the maturity amount mentioned in the document is a clerical error. The amount he was eligible to, in fact, was a mere Rs 14.92 lakh.

Subramanian had paid a premium of Rs 31.77 lakh over the eight years for the policy covering risks. Not to give up, Subramanian approached the court. The insurer claimed the Rs 66.5 lakh was a ‘death benefit sum’ assured. The maturity amount was just Rs 14.92 lakh. It was due to the alignment issues with the printer that the numbers got mixed up.

The court observed that the case was “peculiar” and that both parties had failed to exercise diligence.

The court also observed that the LIC has sought correction in the value of the maturity amount only after eight long years. By this time the petitioner had made periodical payments of premium of Rs 31,153 per month aggregating to a substantial sum of Rs 31.77 lakh without even raising any query about the blanks in some of the columns in the Policy Schedule.

The court observed that “LIC had received the unintended monetary advantage at the cost of divesting Subramanian of the use of his legitimate money during that period.” Hence, to compensate him, the court directed LIC to repay Rs 31.77 lakh that Subramanian had paid as installments over last eight years and also an annual interest of 7.5 per cent.

Doctors fail to test pregnant woman, blame it on protocols

Doctors fail to test pregnant woman, blame it on protocols

Collector R Kannan said that the woman would be given counselling and would be taken to a government facility soon.

Published: 03rd June 2020 06:10 AM | Last Updated: 03rd June 2020 06:10 AM | A+A A-

By Express News Service

VIRUDHUNAGAR: Virudhunagar Medical College is in the eye of a storm after the doctors allegedly failed to conduct Covid-19 test on a mentally-challenged pregnant woman, brought to the hospital with the help of a Village Health Nurse.

Speaking to Express, Shanti, the nurse working at a PHC in Sattur municipality said that the 35-year-old woman approached her 10 days ago while she was leaving the PHC. Since the woman had ran away from the spot immediately, she had asked a person in the locality to alert her if she comes back.

“In the first glance itself, I made it out that she is close to her due date. With the help of a person I found her again on Friday evening,” Shanti said.Shanti added that she along with the help of a few policemen made the woman stay at a place and further sought the help of Upathur Block Medical Officer in arranging an ambulance to take her to Virudhunagar Hospital. “The woman was taken in the ambulance with the help of the policemen and an elderly destitute man,” she said, adding that when asked,the woman said her name is Pagadaikani.

Sources said that they had spotted the woman wandering in and around Sattur and Kovilpatti region. BMO said that the woman, admitted to the hospital as an emergency case on Friday night, delivered a baby girl on Saturday morning and the baby was taken under the protection of District Child Protection Unit on Tuesday afternoon. 

Collector R Kannan said that the woman would be given counselling and would be taken to a government facility soon. The health officials cited emergency, her being asymptomatic and her not belonging to any containment zone and ‘protocol’ of testing antenatal mothers before five days of delivery as reasons for not taking swab samples. “This puts everyone including the mother-child, the doctors, nurses and others who came in contact with her in danger,” they said.

A doctor, said, “As both the mother and the child are to be taken to homes, it is highly recommended to test them for COVID-19. Though she has not shown any symptoms, none are sure about the places she has wandered. So it is safer to test them before deciding on further course of action.”