Anna University removes 15-mark questions

ONE-TIME MEASURE

Anna University removes 15-mark questions

Tweaks Pattern For Semester Exams As Syllabus Was Not Completed

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:08.06.2020

Anna University tweaked question paper pattern for upcoming semester exams so that students can answer for 100 marks by studying 80% of syllabus since engineering colleges could not teach one unit due to loss of working days following Covid-19 lockdown. The Part C section which has 15-mark questions has been dropped from the question paper to give more choices to students.

As per the new pattern, the question paper will have 10 three-mark questions in Part- A section and Part - B will have five questions each carrying 19 marks. Students will have a choice of answering any 8 questions from Part-A and 4 questions from Part- B totalling 100 marks.

“This implies that the students are expected to answer 80% of the question paper pertaining to any four units of the syllabus covered and attempt questions for 100 marks,” a circular from controller of examinations to the principals of engineering colleges said.

However, all the current students reappearing for the arrear examinations of current and other regulations shall have all five units for end semester examintions and no change in existing question paper pattern.

In the wake of Covid-19 pandemic, the academic council has approved extraordinary decisions to conduct classes, viva-voce, end semester examinations to mitigate the academic loss caused by lockdown. The university has decided to leave out one of the five units for all engineering students due to the loss of working days.

However, the university clarified it is one-time measure and not to be taken as precedence in the circular.

“We wanted the colleges to know the change in question paper pattern for upcoming exams. It would help the examiners to set up question papers in autonomous colleges,” said M K Surappa, vice-chancellor of Anna University.

The university also asked the colleges to prepare a ‘Crash Course’ to deliver the remaining syllabus when the colleges reopen. “Students may have issues of connectivity and gadgets in attending online classes. So, they need to make up whatever is lost due to the lockdown,” Surappa added.

The university also said in the circular that the academic calendar is tweaked by compressing the number of lost working days.

We wanted the colleges to know the change in question paper pattern for upcoming exams. It would help the examiners to set up question papers in autonomous colleges

M K Surappa | ANNA UNIV

Over 1,000 beds available at private facilities in and around Chennai

Over 1,000 beds available at private facilities in and around Chennai

98 ventilators are yet to be used in the 21 private hospitals

08/06/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, CHENNAI

As of Sunday, Chennai had 1,065 vacant beds in the 21 private hospitals that offer treatment for COVID-19. As many as 98 ventilators in these hospitals were yet to be used, according to statistics provided on the State government’s website https://covid.uhcitp.in/stat- us/dashboard

Though the government had launched a separate dashboard, detailing the number of beds, vacancies in beds and the number of ventilators put to use, it is limited to the city. The corresponding details for the districts have not been provided yet.

On Saturday, actor Kasthuri Shankar took to social media to complain that an elderly woman had struggled to find an affordable facility for treatment of COVID-19. She said the woman, belonging to an influential family in Chennai, had tested positive at a private hospital in Abiramapuram. She was “highly symptomatic”, and “no hospital was willing to admit her, no beds available was the reply at government facilities. They had to pull strings to finally get into a hospital in Porur”, the actor tweeted.

Her tweet appeared on the same day that the government issued an order capping the treatment cost at private hospitals across the State.

Speaking about the government notification, Health Secretary Beela Rajesh said, “There were complaints that an artificial shortage of beds was being created by hospitals.” On Sunday, the number of active cases in the city stood at 10,982.

As for the districts, she said the case load was low, and there had been no issues with regard to availability of beds. The portal would provide the details for districts as well ‘shortly’, she said.

Treatment for COVID-19 is provided free of cost at government hospitals. For nearly three weeks now, government hospitals have been struggling as the case load in Chennai has been steadily increasing.

VIT teams qualify for hackathon

VIT teams qualify for hackathon

08/06/2020, STAFF REPORTER, VELLORE

Nasscom FutureSkills in collaboration with IBM organised a national-level hackathon, which was open to all university students and their mentoring faculty members with an objective to find innovative solutions to deal with the COVID-19 crisis.

Students from over 500 institutions across India with 26,478 registrations participated. Of the top 16 short-listed teams for the final presentation and evaluation, five from VIT found their way in the list representing all the four campuses.

Is there a delay in accounting for coronavirus deaths in Tamil Nadu?

Is there a delay in accounting for coronavirus deaths in Tamil Nadu?

In the past few weeks, some deaths have not figured in the bulletin, analyses Express

Published: 08th June 2020 03:17 AM | Last Updated: 08th June 2020 03:17 AM | 

Health workers busy taking nosal swab samples from a woman or COVID-19 test at a Public Health Laboratory and Health Care Center at Egmore in Chennai. (Photo | Debadatta Mallick/EPS)

By OMJASVIN M DExpress News Service

CHENNAI: The State has so far been publishing daily health bulletins with the number of Covid-19 cases and deaths. However, in the past few weeks, some deaths caused due to the virus have not yet appeared in the bulletin. Express came across four such cases - three from Chennai and one from Madurai - that were not mentioned in the bulletin.

According to the death certificate accessed by Express, a 41-year-old man from Old Washermenpet passed away on June 3 at a private hospital near Kattankulathur. The deceased bank-employee, who did not have comorbidity too, had Covid-19 and died of viral pneumonitis. His family members said the patient was admitted to the Stanley Medical College Hospital on May 25 and later shifted to a private hospital on May 28. “The burial also took place on June 3 evening itself. The body was directly sent by the hospital to the burial ground and we witnessed the proceedings from a faraway distance,’’ said the deceased’s elder brother.

In a similar incident, a 76-year-old patient from Ambattur, admitted at the KMCH, passed away on May 26 due to Covid-19, according to the medical report issued by the hospital. His family members said he was admitted at KMCH on May 18 and after four days, his fever only got worse and he was moved to the Intensive Care Unit. He died on May 26. However, even though it has been 10 days, his death case has not appeared in the bulletin.

In Madurai, a 72-year-old woman, a resident of Tamil Nadu Housing Board in Anuppanadi, Madurai, with fever and shortness of breath, was tested positive on June 4 at a private hospital. Sources close to the family said she was referred to the Government Rajaji Hospital at 5.50 pm. Hospital authorities confirmed she died the same day at 10:35pm due to respiratory failure and sepsis. However, this case too has not been mentioned yet.

Similarly, a 63-year-old man from Chennai who had gone to Koodankulam in Tirunelveli district on May 23 for his son’s marriage, fainted during the marriage the next day, hospital sources said. He was taken to a nearby hospital and was declared dead.

Koodankulam police brought the body as a medico-legal case (MLC) to Kanyakumari government medical college hospital on May 24. As the body was brought in as MLC, a throat sample was taken and the deceased tested positive. The body was cremated in Nagercoil on Monday but this death has not been mentioned in the bulletin yet. When contacted, officials of the death audit team said, “There may be a delay but we have not missed any deaths. We will review these cases,’’ the official said.

Director of Public Health Dr TS Selvavinayagam said that he will look into the issue. Details of this has been shared to him.

Official reply

When contacted, officials of the death audit team said, “There may be a delay but we have not missed any deaths. We will review these cases” Director of public health said he will look into the issue

(Inputs:Lalitha Ranjani @Madurai, M Abdul Rabi @Nagercoil).

High-risk surgery performed on woman at Thoothukudi GMCH

High-risk surgery performed on woman at Thoothukudi GMCH

08/06/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, THOOTHUKUDI

A team of surgeons and anesthetists at the Thoothukudi Government Medical College Hospital successfully saved the life of a 19-year-old pregnant woman from death and helped her deliver the baby by performing a cesarean section on Saturday.

Doctors at the Medical College Hospital here said that Kaliammal of Oddapidaram had met with a road accident, while she was on a two-wheeler as a pillion rider. She was not wearing helmet.

In a critical condition, she was admitted to the hospital. For about an hour or so, the patient was consciously speaking, but suddenly her condition deteriorated. A CT Scan on her brain indicated that there was a ‘severe’ internal bleeding.

Immediately, a team of surgeons performed the surgery knowing well about the high risk involved and removed the clot weighing about 200 grams.

Even as they were performing the surgery, the baby on her appeared to be critical.

Swiftly, the gynaecologist and her team performed a cesarean section and delivered the baby.

The mother and baby have been responding well and were stable, the doctors said on Sunday. The swift work by the duty doctors, surgeons and para--medical team saved the two lives was commended by Health Minister C. Vijayabhaskar. In a tweet, the Minister said, “The pregnant woman was admitted in a very critical condition .. An emergency craniotomy and caesarean by Dr. Raja Vignesh, neurosurgeon, gynecologist, and obstetricians past midnight show their commitment.”

Hospital ties man to bed for not paying bills

Hospital ties man to bed for not paying bills

08/06/2020

“We told the hospital we can’t pay any further and asked them to remove the catheter so that we can take him home,” she said.

In order to secure his discharge, and get the case file, she was told another ₹11,270 would have to be paid. “They didn’t give us the file, so when we started leaving the hospital, and father was coming behind me, they grabbed him, took him inside and strapped him to the bed,” she said.

Describing the act “inhuman” and “barbaric”, former Chief Minister Kamal Nath tweeted, “During this corona pandemic, inhuman behaviour, fleecing and arbitrariness is continuing in several private hospitals of the State. There is no one to listen to the public. The government should take strict action over the incident.”

25 women apply for V-C post at Madras University

25 women apply for V-C post at Madras University

177 applications for the top job

08/06/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, CHENNAI

The list of aspirants to the post of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Madras has as many as 177 persons, including around 25 women and professors from within the university.

Among the applicants is Kalyani Mathivanan, whose tenure at the Madurai Kamaraj University ended with allegations of arbitrarily removing some professors from the post of head of department.

The prestigious 163-year-old university has been in serious financial trouble in the last decade.

Mismanagement of funds has landed the university in financial crisis in the past decade.

P. Duraisamy, who completed his tenure on May 26 as Vice-Chancellor, managed to bring some amount of order in the financial structure.

“I am surprised to see that a substantial number of women have applied. Madras University has never had a lady as a V-C till now. It would be a welcome change,” said P. T. Srinivasan, former Syndicate Member and head of the Department of Management Studies.

Patients wait for Remdesivir as DCGI yet to give clearance

Patients wait for Remdesivir as DCGI yet to give clearance

Sushmi.Dey@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:08.06.2020

Despite rapidly rising Covid-19 deaths and an approval to use Remdesivir for treatment of severe cases, Indian patients are still waiting for the drug to be available in the country as companies are awaiting marketing approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).

“It might take some time before the drug (Remdesivir) is available in the Indian market. The regulator has asked companies to submit various sets of data, including stability study, animal toxicity etc. Even if these trials are conducted on a fast-track basis, they will take at least a month’s time,” an official said.

Five Indian pharma companies have applied to the DCGI seeking permission to manufacture and sell Remdesivir — an experimental drug that has shown promise in treating Covid-19 patients — in India.

Companies have signed an agreement with Gilead to make drug in 127 countries

These companies have signed a licensing agreement with US drug maker Gilead Sciences to manufacture and distribute the drug in around 127 countries. Gilead is the original developer of the re-purposed ebola drug.

While the drug regulator has granted approval to Gilead to import and sell the medicine in India, it was primarily with a purpose to support the licencees or Indian firms with whom Gilead signed non-exclusive agreements to further expand supply of Remdesivir, sources said.

However, despite local companies citing Gilead’s data as the reference point, the DCGI has recently written to the five Indian companies to submit data from animal toxicity studies, stability studies and test licences.

“We have asked the companies for this data to ensure quality of these products. Only clinical trials can be waived off based on Gilead’s data,” a senior official in the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) said.

When asked how Maharashtra government was procuring 10,000 vials of Remdesivir from Bangladesh, the official said, “We have given permission to only Gilead. Everything else is now from the grey market and unapproved.” Sources said the matter was taken up in a high-level meeting in the government on Sunday.

Local manufacturers said they had everything in place, starting from raw material to capacity, and were only waiting for regulatory approval to start manufacturing the drug. “We are completely backward integrated and can manufacture everything locally, starting from API to finished formulation for Remdesivir. However, the studies can take up to six months’ time and delay launch of the product,” a senior pharma executive said.

Docs can pursue studies after giving bond

Docs can pursue studies after giving bond

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai:08.06.2020

The state government has informed Madras high court that it had passed a GO recently permitting medical practitioners who have not completed the period of compulsory service as per the bond executed, to pursue higher studies after obtaining bank guarantee equivalent to the bond amount.

The court was hearing a petition filed by K Gautham, who had completed MBBS in 2013 and was selected for diploma in Ophthalmology at Madurai Medical College under all India quota in May 2017. Though he had executed a bond to serve the state for two years after this course, he did not join duty on being posted as assistant surgeon after completing his course in 2019.

Meantime, he qualified for DNB (post diploma) with all India merit position and sought his certificates back to pursue the course and executed a bond for Rs 20lakh undertaking that he would complete the compulsory service after higher studies. The court had earlier directed the dean to return his original certificates stating that the authorities could encash the bond amount if the petitioner fails to join duty after the course. During the course of hearing, the state informed that a GO has been passed by the health and family welfare department to permit medical practitioners who have not completed the period of compulsory service to pursue further studies after they furnish bank guarantee equivalent to the bond amount for the period of course of higher studies.

33 from outside apply for post of Madras Univ VC

33 from outside apply for post of Madras Univ VC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:08.06.2020

Of 177 applications received for Madras University post, 33 are from outside the state and a professor from France also applied to the post.

Madras University vicechancellor search committee headed by Jawaharlal Nehru University vice-chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar uploaded the details of all applicants for the post on the university's website.

The list contains former vice-chancellors, registrars and directors of research centres. Professors from IIT Kanpur and IIT Madras also showed interest for the post.

Professors from Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh Punjab, Delhi, Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir also applied. Madras University professors expressed surprise over the interest of professors from other states for the Madras University post. "We need experienced professors who have grip over local issues as vice-chancellor," they said.

Despite hike, junior doctors get lower than in most states

Despite hike, junior doctors get lower than in most states

Hemali.Chhapia@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:08.06.2020

There is wide variation in the stipend drawn by resident doctors, who work in public healthcare facilities for their post-graduate education, depending on which part of India they serve. Chhattisgarh pays the most. UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Haryana, all pay Rs 80,000-Rs 1 lakh a month while Maharashtra and the southern states lie in the mid-range, paying Rs 40,000-Rs 60,000 monthly. The Medical Council of India plans to make stipend post-MBBS uniform across the country, but the plan is yet to be cleared by all states.

Interns in central government-run hospitals are paid the highest, Rs 23,500 a month. Across India in state-run hospitals, their stipend varies from Rs 7,000 in Rajasthan to the highest in Karnataka now at Rs 30,000. Medical interns are students who have completed four-and-a-half years at a med school and do a compulsory residential internship at a hospital attached to the medical college for their degree.

While interns in Maharashtra get Rs 6,000, it was recently hiked to Rs 11,000 by the state. But BMC hospitals are yet to effect the change. Residents and senior residents in the state get Rs 54,000 and Rs 59,000 respectively (average of three years). BMC recently announced a temporary stipend of Rs 50,000 for MBBS interns for working in Covid-19 wards. But a permanent increase of Rs 10,000 is expected for residents, said the head of the Directorate of Medical Education and Research in Maharashtra Dr T P Lahane.

“Even after the recent hike of Rs 5,000, the state has among the lowest stipend that we pay our medical interns. That has a lot of scope for improvement,” said Dr Praveen Shingare, former DMER head. “Moreover, some hospitals like Yavatmal and the BMC-run hospitals slash tax on stipend, what residents get in hand varies across Maharashtra too,” added he.

At the post grad level, stipend varies for every state as also for each year of the resident. In some states, there are multiple scales; to attract talent,residents in rural areas get higher compared to what is paid in urban centres. For instance, in Chhattisgarh, residents in rural areas are paid Rs 20,000-30,000 more and seniors are paid Rs 1.5 lakh compared to their counterparts in city hospitals who get Rs 20,000 less. One of the reasons Bihar, UP, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand pay much higher, experts say, is because of the dependence on the public healthcare network in these states as compared to, say, Maharashtra, TN or Karnataka which have more hospitals driven by charitable trusts and private practitioners.

Founder member of Alliance of Doctors for Ethical Healthcare Dr Babu KV has been writing to MCI for a uniform stipend for interns, residents and seniors. “Just before the lockdown, the MCI was going to clear that rule for interns. Step two would be to bring about parity for PG residents and super-specialists too,” he said.

In Maharashtra, doctors complain that not only does the stipend vary across states, so does tuition and tax rules. While most states do not cut tax, some do. Resident doctors also pay an annual tuition cost. “Nowhere in the world do resident doctors pay hospitals for training. Why should they (post graduates and superspecialty candidates) pay tuition fees? This is an anomaly we first need to straighten out in India. They are made to pay because there are only a few slots for PG and superspecialty. If these seats are increased, the business model of medical education will collapse,” said cardiac surgeon Dr Devi Shetty.

Resident doctors write to Council, demand cancellation of final exams

Mumbai

: Resident doctors, who are at the frontline of the battle against Covid, have sought cancellation of their final exams in a letter to the Medical Council of India (MCI). Claiming it would lead to the collapse of the healthcare system in the city and state, the resident doctors have said they cannot be pulled out of Covid duty for almost two months. A doctor said if exams were postponed, postgraduate doctors from Maharashtra would lag behind aspirants from other states in admissions for super specialty courses. “Other states are able to conduct their exams as their situation is not as bad as that of Maharashtra. Maharashtra should be considered a special case this year and exams should be cancelled,” the doctor said.

An official, however, said MCI norms do not permit cancellation of exams. “It is not possible to cancel exams for professional courses like medical,” the official said. TNN

Despite hike, junior doctors get lower than in most states

Despite hike, junior doctors get lower than in most states

Hemali.Chhapia@timesgroup.com

Mumbai: 09.06.2020

There is wide variation in the stipend drawn by resident doctors, who work in public healthcare facilities for their post-graduate education, depending on which part of India they serve. Chhattisgarh pays the most. UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Haryana, all pay Rs 80,000-Rs 1 lakh a month while Maharashtra and the southern states lie in the mid-range, paying Rs 40,000-Rs 60,000 monthly. The Medical Council of India plans to make stipend post-MBBS uniform across the country, but the plan is yet to be cleared by all states.

Interns in central government-run hospitals are paid the highest, Rs 23,500 a month. Across India in state-run hospitals, their stipend varies from Rs 7,000 in Rajasthan to the highest in Karnataka now at Rs 30,000. Medical interns are students who have completed four-and-a-half years at a med school and do a compulsory residential internship at a hospital attached to the medical college for their degree.

While interns in Maharashtra get Rs 6,000, it was recently hiked to Rs 11,000 by the state. But BMC hospitals are yet to effect the change. Residents and senior residents in the state get Rs 54,000 and Rs 59,000 respectively (average of three years). BMC recently announced a temporary stipend of Rs 50,000 for MBBS interns for working in Covid-19 wards. But a permanent increase of Rs 10,000 is expected for residents, said the head of the Directorate of Medical Education and Research in Maharashtra Dr T P Lahane.

“Even after the recent hike of Rs 5,000, the state has among the lowest stipend that we pay our medical interns. That has a lot of scope for improvement,” said Dr Praveen Shingare, former DMER head. “Moreover, some hospitals like Yavatmal and the BMC-run hospitals slash tax on stipend, what residents get in hand varies across Maharashtra too,” added he.

At the post grad level, stipend varies for every state as also for each year of the resident. In some states, there are multiple scales; to attract talent,residents in rural areas get higher compared to what is paid in urban centres. For instance, in Chhattisgarh, residents in rural areas are paid Rs 20,000-30,000 more and seniors are paid Rs 1.5 lakh compared to their counterparts in city hospitals who get Rs 20,000 less. One of the reasons Bihar, UP, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand pay much higher, experts say, is because of the dependence on the public healthcare network in these states as compared to, say, Maharashtra, TN or Karnataka which have more hospitals driven by charitable trusts and private practitioners.

Founder member of Alliance of Doctors for Ethical Healthcare Dr Babu KV has been writing to MCI for a uniform stipend for interns, residents and seniors. “Just before the lockdown, the MCI was going to clear that rule for interns. Step two would be to bring about parity for PG residents and super-specialists too,” he said.

In Maharashtra, doctors complain that not only does the stipend vary across states, so does tuition and tax rules. While most states do not cut tax, some do. Resident doctors also pay an annual tuition cost. “Nowhere in the world do resident doctors pay hospitals for training. Why should they (post graduates and superspecialty candidates) pay tuition fees? This is an anomaly we first need to straighten out in India. They are made to pay because there are only a few slots for PG and superspecialty. If these seats are increased, the business model of medical education will collapse,” said cardiac surgeon Dr Devi Shetty.

Resident doctors write to Council, demand cancellation of final exams

Mumbai

: Resident doctors, who are at the frontline of the battle against Covid, have sought cancellation of their final exams in a letter to the Medical Council of India (MCI). Claiming it would lead to the collapse of the healthcare system in the city and state, the resident doctors have said they cannot be pulled out of Covid duty for almost two months. A doctor said if exams were postponed, postgraduate doctors from Maharashtra would lag behind aspirants from other states in admissions for super specialty courses. “Other states are able to conduct their exams as their situation is not as bad as that of Maharashtra. Maharashtra should be considered a special case this year and exams should be cancelled,” the doctor said.

An official, however, said MCI norms do not permit cancellation of exams. “It is not possible to cancel exams for professional courses like medical,” the official said. TNN

‘More incoming flights, pvt airlines likely to bring back stranded Indians’

‘More incoming flights, pvt airlines likely to bring back stranded Indians’

09.06.2020

Amid allegations of favouritism and ‘deliberate delay’ in the evacuation of distressed Indians in Covid-struck nations, the ministry of external affairs has been grappling with a growing waiting list of several lakhs of people. In an interview to Jaya Menon and V Ayyappan, minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan said the ministry has followed “a stringent and transparent” approach to select people only with “most compelling situations”. On complaints that the Indian Community Welfare Fund with consulates was not being used to take care of air fares for the needy, the minister said it was used by missions to support Indians in distress abroad including for food, accomm o dation, medical emergencies and transfer of mortal remains. Apprehensions expressed by some chief ministers, including Edappadi K Palaniswami, about the influx adding to the growing Covid numbers have delayed the process of consent for flights to land. Excerpts from the interview:

What were the criteria for selecting people for the rescue flights?

We have been advising our people to stay put wherever they are in the best interest of their own health and that of their family members. We also understand that people have compelling reasons to be in India and since we could not resume international travel, we have launched Vande Bharat Mission to offer limited assisted return to India. We have followed a stringent and transparent approach to select people only with the most compelling situations (pregnant women, laid off workers, deportees, amnesty cases, stranded in transit on visit visa, students and people with critical life threatening medical conditions). So far, close to 1,00,000 people have returned to India.

There are allegations of favouritism in shortlisting evacuees. A senior Indian official of the UAE-based NMC Health, which is under scanner for a multi-billion dollar fraud, and his family boarded the first flight from Abu Dhabi on May 7. How did that happen?

It is not appropriate to discuss individual cases. All I can say is that the returnees have been selected on the basis of the criteria as I explained.

In the UAE, more than 3,50,000 Indians have registered to return, of which only 6,000 were repatriated in the first two phases, till May 23. How will it be in the next phases?

Our embassy in Abu Dhabi and consulate in Dubai are constantly in touch with the diaspora to ensure their well-being. In Phase II around 100 flights have been planned from UAE to India. Between Phases I and II, 137 flights have arrived from UAE. Rules regarding chartered flights have also been simplified. More flights from UAE would be added in Phase III. There have been discussions with private airlines to join the mission.

Can the Indian community welfare fund be used to pay for the air fares of those who can’t afford tickets and the seven-day compulsory quarantine?

A decision has been taken that people willing to return would pay for their travel. People travelling on naval ships have also been paying. Our missions have been working closely with community associations to help those in need of travel assistance. As far as quarantine expenditure is concerned, the government has relaxed rules and reduced the expenses by half. Now, instead of 14 days, the institutional quarantine is for seven days. Some state governments have offered publicly funded quarantine facilities to those in need. ICWF has been regularly used by our missions to support Indians in distress abroad including for food, accommodation, medical emergencies and transfer of mortal remains.

Is there a plan to allow foreign airlines to evacuate Indians? Air India may not have enough long-range aircraft to go to the UK and the US where several Indians are stranded.

We are using incoming foreign flights. Seventy-four foreign carriers have been used to bring Indians home from different parts of the world.

Email your feedback with name and address to southpole.toi@timesgroup.

com

RETURN AT LAST : A flight from Dubai in May was the first international aircraft to land at Chennai post lockdown

Covid-19 may peak in various parts at different times: Panel

Covid-19 may peak in various parts at different times: Panel

Suggests Pooling Of Resources Among States For Better Health Infra

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:09.06.2020

The Covid-19 pandemic may peak in different parts of the country at different times, the 15th Finance Commission's high-level panel on health has observed, suggesting pooling of resources between states to ensure better availability of health infrastructure in every state.

Dr Randeep Guleria, director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and convenor of the high-level group (HLG), underlined the need for a mechanism so that health resources like manpower and equipment could be moved from one state to another as per need. He said some states may be better equipped to manage increasing number of Covid-19 cases, while others could be challenged in terms of medical infrastructure.

Based on a statistical analysis, the panel said the path of the pandemic so far had also been different across states. Some like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Delhi continued to have a large number of active cases. However, there was some moderation of the curve in states like Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Kerala though spikes continue to happen. Overall, the average daily growth rate in infections from May 14 to May 18 considered by the study was estimated at around 5.1%.

Dr Balram Bhargava, director general of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said the Covid-19 curve had not yet flattened but the impact had got distributed for a long haul of two to three years. Though he said deaths too had got distributed or spaced out, it is vital to keep mortality rate below 5%, cautioning that if the number of deaths per day rose to 1,000-2,000, it would become “alarming” for the government.

The ICMR also noted that the current strategy of ‘track, trace and treat’ was working well except in Maharashtra and Gujarat.

The 15th Finance Commission’s HLG on health, which met last month, made recommendations in three broad groups — very short-, shortand medium-term measures.

Very short-term measures included rapid testing for surveillance, containment to avoid cluster formation, ensuring supply of cost-effective medicines and provision of e-ICUs, rural mobile health units and supply of equipment like ventilators, PPEs, masks, continuous oxygen supply, and ‘hop in hop off ’ service for Covid-19 patients.

Recommendations for short-term measures included ‘outbreak management plan’ for the health sector as the country is likely to have similar outbreaks in future. Besides, it also suggested financing development of vaccine and provisioning funds to make it available to people.

The panel suggested increasing investment on health, addressing shortfall in health workforce, exploring possibilities of covering the remaining 60% of the population under Ayushman Bharat and creation of an All India Medical Services on the pattern of Indian Civil Services as medium-term measures.

A health worker takes swab sample of a man in Mumbai

74 days on, malls reopen to low footfall across country

74 days on, malls reopen to low footfall across country

Sales Too Remain Tepid On Day One

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

09.06.2020

As malls and shopping plazas across cities reopened on Monday after 74 days of lockdown, the spirit of business may have been unlocked but shoppers remained tied up in knots about whether or not to step out for that long overdue dose of retail therapy.

Most malls and plazas reported low to moderate footfall, and sales were tepid at best, according to retailers. At a mall in Lucknow's Gomti Nagar, a young couple who hadn't had a date in more than two months was among the few visitors throughout the day. They only visited the food court for a snack and a chat.

Ahmedabad's usually busy One Mall had a sprinkling of visitors in the first half of the day and almost none thereafter as rain put paid to chances of footfall picking up late afternoon. “Till 2pm, we had some 1,700 people coming in," said Jayen Naik, senior VP (operations) of the mall.

Kolkata seemed to be the exception, with managers of the larger malls such as South City and Acropolis saying their first-day turnout was decent for a Monday. "Stores selling kids wear and infant essentials did good business, as did some of the regular apparel stores. The F&B segment logged 30-40% of pre-Covid weekday sales," an official said.

Visitors wearing facemasks at a mall in New Delhi on Monday

Major temples in A’bad remain closed

While most large temples across Gujarat opened on Monday after more than two months, major temples in Ahmedabad stayed shut. They are likely to open after a week because they are situated in containment areas. The Iskcon temple on the SG Road was open.

Some Bengaluru malls seek more time to sanitise premises

Kolkata’s nearly 150-yearold New Market, which reopened for business a week ago, has been struggling to make up for the absence of visitors from Bangladesh, who constitute about 50% of its clientele.

In Bengaluru, not all malls reopened on Monday, while thosethatdidhadlittletocheer aboutin termsof footfall. Some malls put up boards saying they would open only from Wednesday as they required more time to sanitise the premises.

Caution was the buzzword at Chandigarh's Elante Mall, which deployed staff outside the building to prevent children below 10 and senior citizens above 65 from entering, as recommended by the government. A continuing tussle between retailers and the mall management over rent further dented the enthusiasm over business resuming after twoand-a-half months.

Hyderabad's City Center Mall, located in the tony Banjara Hills neighbourhood, didn't have even a fraction of the visitors and sales it records on a normal day. "We opened shops at 11am as usual, but the responsesofar hasbeen extremely poor. Those who entered our shop indulged only in window shopping," said Syed Salam, manager of an apparel store.

Some visitors had to be barred from entering the mall after they refused to download the Aarogya Setu app, an official said.

At Pondy Bazaar in the heart of Chennai, which has been developed as a pedestrian plaza under the Smart Cities Mission, the only sign of business activity was in shops selling mobile phones and accessories. Rows of textile showrooms, jewellery shops, a supermarket and multi-cuisine restaurants were almost deserted.

Pune's oldest marketplace, Laxmi Road, appeared to spring to life after a few sealed roads in the adjoining areas were reopened.

Jaipur's MI Road, a hub for jewellery, branded clothes, handicrafts,shoes andbags, reported15-20% of its usual business on Monday.

OPENING ACT

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Med college approvals get 3-mth relief

Med college approvals get 3-mth relief

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:  09.06.2020

The Supreme Court on Monday extended the deadline for grant of permission to open new medical colleges or increase seats in existing colleges by three months to August 31 as the Board of Governors, appointed by the SC superseding the Medical Council of India, expressed inability to complete the process of granting permission by the May 31 deadline.

Advocate Gaurav Sharma told a bench of Justices R F Nariman, Navin Sinha and B R Gavai that because of the lockdown, officials could not inspect institutions seeking permission to start new medical colleges or to increase the intake of students in undergraduate course for the 2020-21 academic year.

Sharma said the SC had set a May 31 deadline for grant of permission to open new colleges but owing to closure of offices due to the lockdown, the inspection of infrastructure, faculty and facilities could not be completed.He sought extension August 31, which the court agreed.

Centre, states decide not to rush school reopening

Centre, states decide not to rush school reopening

‘Safety And Security Of Students Our Priority’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:09.06.2020

The Centre, the states/ UTs and stakeholders had a meeting on Monday to deliberate on reopening of schools which have been closed since March due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The state representatives suggested staggered classes, no compulsion to maintain attendance, calling students on alternative days and a flexible plan to be able to avoid any exigencies.

The meeting was chaired by Anita Karwal, secretary school education, ministry of human resource development and the states/ UTs were represented by respective education secretaries. The officials also deliberated on health and safety of students, hygiene measures in schools and issues regarding online and digital education.

Post the meeting, Ramesh Pokhriyal, Union HRD minister tweeted, “Obtained valuable suggestions from state governments regarding issues related to school education. Our priority has always been the safety and security of students and teachers. The suggestions received will be examined and sent to the health ministry and ministry of home affairs for appropriate actions regarding framing guidelines for education sector during Covid-19 times.”

According to a senior HRD official present in the meeting, “Nothing will be rushed without proper consultations and students' safety is the priority. No schedule has been decided on when schools will reopen and that decision will be taken after reviewing the current situation. A final decision will be taken by the ministry of home affairs and states will also have to keep the Covid-19 situation in mind in their particular state,” an official said.

Among issues that were discussed were preparedness for the opening of schools, what kind of arrangements will be made by the administration for the health and safety of students, and the hygiene measures in schools.

Universities and schools across the country have been closed since March 16, 2020 when the Centre announced a countrywide classroom shutdown to contain the outbreak. While the government has announced easing of certain restrictions, schools and colleges continue to remain closed.

The government on May 30, 2020 announced phase-wise easing of restrictions, it was decided that the schools, colleges and coaching institutes will be opened after consultation with states and UTs.

Universities & schools across the country have been closed since March 16

Kejri to undergo Covid test today

Kejri to undergo Covid test today

AlokKNMishra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:09.06.2020

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has developed Covid-like symptoms and will undergo test for novel coronavirus. After developing mild fever and sore throat, he has cancelled all meetings since Sunday and gone into self-isolation.

“The chief minster started feeling down since Sunday afternoon. He has fever and pain in the throat. He has put himself into self-isolation at his residence. All meetings have been cancelled since Sunday. He will undergo Covid test on Tuesday,” AAP MP Sanjay Singh said.

As Kejriwal has a medical history of diabetes for a long time, doctors have advised him to avoid meetings and stay isolated, Singh said. “I pray to God that everything is fine and he recovers very fast and returns to work,” he added.

During the complete lockdown, Kejriwal mostly worked from home and also attended meetings through videoconferencing before returning to the secretariat on a regular basis.

‘Will assess if there’s community transmission’

New Delhi:

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Monday said the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) will hold a crucial meeting on Tuesday to assess whether Covid-19 has entered the community transmission phase in the national capital.

Addressing an online media briefing here, Sisodia said if community transmission was taking place in Delhi, the AAP government would have to change its strategy accordingly to deal with the situation.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is the vice-chairman of the DDMA, has authorised his deputy, Sisodia, to attend this meeting on his behalf. Kejriwal has gone into self-quarantine after developing sore throat and fever. “There will be an important meeting of the state disaster management authority on Tuesday. Experts will also attend iy,” Sisodia said. PTI

Train makes emergency stop after migrants told to pay cash

PROBE ORDERED

Train makes emergency stop after migrants told to pay cash

Christin.MathewPhilip@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:09.06.2020

Two unidentified men allegedly demanded bribe from migrant workers travelling in a Shramik train from Bengaluru to Uttar Pradesh via Bihar on Sunday.

Sources said the men, donning white shirt and black trousers —the uniform of travelling ticket examiners (TTEs) —demanded Rs 905 from passengers in three coaches (S10, S11 and S12).

Mukesh N, a worker from Bihar who lodged a complaint, said: “They asked to pay for tickets, but we did not have money.”

The train left KSR Bengaluru City at 6.08pm on Sunday to Gorakhpur with 1,668 passengers. While the state government has made travel free, the railways provides tickets for every passenger for identification.

Whitefield Rising, an organisation which has been helping workers to return to their hometowns from Bengaluru, on Sunday night tweeted that it received a distress call from workers aboard the train. “Uniformed personnel moved through compartments asking for ticket money. From S10 to S11 & S12. Many are scared of being taken out of the train (sic)”.

Responding to the tweet, Ashok Kumar Verma, Bengaluru divisional railway manager, wrote: “We’re trying to contact passengers and asking them to nab the persons. We’re trying to stop the train.”

The train made an emergency halt at Hindupur station and officials took statements from the passengers. Railway Protection Force (RPF) team collected CCTV footage from KSR Bengaluru City station and identified a group of men in white shirt and black trousers approaching the coaches.

AN Krishna Reddy, senior divisional commercial manager, said RPF is investigating the matter. “Strict action will be taken against those involved, even if it’s TTE or RPF employees. There are chances of people posing as railway staffers and demanding money.”

Board KSRTC buses from more areas

KSRTC on Monday announced more pickup points in Bengaluru for intra-state passengers: Navarang, Govardhan (Yeshwantpur), Goraguntepalya, Jalahalli Cross, 8th Mile, Hebbal, Yelahanka, Corporation Circle, Tin Factory, KR Puram, ITI Gate, Cauvery Bhavan, Kalasipalya, Nayandahalli and Kengeri. These are in addition to Majestic and Officials will allow passengers to board buses after thermal screening.

BMTC discount for seniors

BMTC will allow senior citizens to travel in its buses at concessional rates. They will have to wear masks and ensure social distancing. Earlier, the utility had restricted those aged above 65 since they were more vulnerable to Covid-19.

With no break for 3 months, docs say they’re cracking up

With no break for 3 months, docs say they’re cracking up

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:09.06.2020

Doctors, officials and other government healthcare workers on the frontline of the Covid-19 battle are complaining of burnout. They say they have been working without weekly offs for over three months, delivering under pressure, reporting to multiple committees and under unending public scrutiny.

On Monday, the Hassan branch of Karnataka Government Medical Officers Association shot off a letter to district in-charge minister K Gopalaiah, saying one of their colleagues suffered brain haemorrhage due to the workload.

“Dr CS Shivakiran, 48, a paediatrician deputed at the general hospital in Alur suffered brain haemorrhage on June 3 and is battling for life. It’s not just one doctor. Medical officers and all employees of the health department have been working without a break, ignoring their health and well-being. We request you to work out a system where doctors and others get some respite in batches...,” said the association in its letter.

In March, the health and family welfare department issued a circular instructing all employees to report to work on all Sundays and general holidays. “It’s being followed even now. Leave is sanctioned only in case of medical emergencies, death of a family member or a wedding,” a district health officer told TOI.

A doctor said, “Things have been complicated by farcical distribution of workload and responsibilities,” said a doctor.

Girijamba Devi, secretary, Trained Nurses Association, Karnataka, said, “Many nurses are facing depression, anxiety and acute stress. We have started online sessions for positive and productive empowerment.” The association is conducting breathing and meditation exercises and happiness programmes for members, in association with the Art of Living. Nurses have christened their programme Positive Productive Empowerment, a pun on PPE.

Doctors and officials working in vulnerable areas, even outside hospital premises, and part of surveillance activities have been advised to take hydroxychloroquine drug as a prophylaxis.

“We aren’t in a Covid-19 ward now, but we see all kinds of cases every day. Coronavirus concerns remain. The minute I enter home, I isolate myself and do not mingle with my children. The siutation has been tough on our families too,” said a doctor working in a general hospital.

The government is yet to conduct stress-relief activities and counselling sessions for doctors and other healthcare staff. “Whenever we raise issues, bureaucrats cite one example: the situation in Karnataka is not as bad as that in Maharashtra and Delhi,” said a senior official.

Another issue contributing to the stress is that officials have to report to multiple bureaucrats. “Priorities have not been set straight in handling of Covid-19 situation. A DHO is not only burdened with overlooking all cases, preventive care, overseeing institutional quarantine facilities and surveillance activities, but also updating various apps. How is it humanly possible to deliver the best on all grounds?” a DHO told TOI.

Physiotherapists cannot use ‘Dr’ prefix, says court

Physiotherapists cannot use ‘Dr’ prefix, says court

Vasantha.Kumar@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru: 08.06.2020

Occupational therapists and physiotherapists cannot use the prefix ‘Dr’ along with their names, and they have to follow instructions of a physician, a city court has said.

Making this observation, the 24th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Balagopalakrishna acquitted two doctors of a private nursing home in an 18-year-old medical negligence case registered under section 338 of IPC. The court noted that a medical practitioner in a private hospital is not a competent witness in the case and the evidence provided by the complainants — Deepa Prashanth, her husband HG Prashanth and daughter Pragathi — is not valid.

The complaint against Dr A Prakash, proprietor of Brindavan Nursing Home, and gynaecologist and obstetrician Dr Rajalakshmi V Rao, was filed in 2002. Physiotherapist Arathi Prasad had deposed as Dr Arathi Prasad, medical practitioner in a private hospital, as the witness.

The complaint stated that Deepa, who was admitted to the nursing home on August 5, 2001, underwent a forcepsassisted delivery. But the left hand of the baby looked twisted at the wrist, elbow and shoulder bones.

Stating that Dr Rajalakshmi could have conducted Csection, Prashanth alleged that her negligence led to dystocia and Erb’s palsy and the baby has become disabled.

Complainants are at fault here: Judge

Additional chief metropolitan magistrate Balagopalakrishna, observed that physiotherapist Arathi Prasad is not a competent witness in the case and her opinion has no value.

He noted that when the complainants alleged negligence against a doctor, they should have got opinion from another expert who has qualifications of MBBS and MD in gynaecology and obstetrics. The judge also relied upon a Patna court ruling, brought to his notice by BR Deepak, counsel for the accused.

Delhi, UP pay resident docs most, interns in Maha among worst paid

Delhi, UP pay resident docs most, interns in Maha among worst paid

Hemali.Chhapia@timesgroup.com

09.06.2020

Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar pay resident doctors (MBBS degree holders pursuing postgraduation) the most. Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Gujarat and Haryana are also among the better paymasters for doctors at different levels in government-run hospitals. Interns (those in the final year of their MBBS course) in Maharashtra are among the worst paid even after a recent hike; only three other states, Rajasthan, MP and UP, pay lower. And specialists – senior residents pursuing a superspecialty course – are better off in the rural parts of Chhattisgarh, Haryana and UP where they earn Rs 1 lakh to 1.5 lakh a month, compared to Maharashtra where they get an average Rs 59,000.

Interns at Centre-run hosps get highest pay

At a time when resident doctors across the country are on the frontlines attending to Covid-19 patients, there is wide variation in their stipend depending on which part of India they serve. Chhattisgarh pays the maximum. UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Haryana, all pay Rs 80,000-Rs 1 lakh a month while Maharashtra and the southern states lie in the mid-range, paying a monthly stipend of Rs 40,000-Rs 60,000. The Medical Council of India plans to make stipend post-MBBS uniform across the country, but the plan is yet to be cleared by all states.

Interns posted in central government-run hospitals are paid the highest, Rs 23,500 a month. Across India in staterun hospitals, their stipend varies from as low as Rs 7,000 in Rajasthan to the highest in Karnataka now at Rs 30,000. Medical interns are students who have completed four-anda-half years at a med school and do their compulsory rotational residential internship at a hospital attached to the medical college before getting the MBBS degree.

While interns in Maharashtra get a stipend of Rs 6,000, it was recently hiked to Rs 11,000 by the state. But BMC hospitals in Mumbai are yet to effect the change. Residents and senior residents in the state get Rs 54,000 and Rs 59,000, respectively (average of three years). The BMC recently announced a temporary stipend of Rs 50,000 for MBBS interns for their work in the Covid-19 wards. But a permanent increase of Rs 10,000 is expected for residents, said the head of the Directorate of Medical Education and Research in Maharashtra Dr T P Lahane.

At the postgraduate level, the stipend varies for every state as also for each year of the resident. In some states, there are multiple scales; to attract talent, the stipend offered to residents in rural areas is higher compared to what is paid in urban centres. For instance, in Chhattisgarh, residents in rural areas are paid Rs 20,000-30,000 more and seniors are paid Rs 1.5 lakh as compared to their counterparts in city hospitals who take home Rs 1.3 lakh a month. One of the reasons Bihar, UP, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand pay government doctors much higher, experts say, is because of the dependence on the public healthcare network in these states as compared to Maharashtra, TN or Karnataka, which have more hospitals driven by charitable trusts and private practitioners.

Founder member of Alliance of Doctors for Ethical Healthcare Dr Babu KV has for long been writing to the MCI for a uniform stipend for interns, residents and seniors.

Full report on www.toi.in

TNSTC buses in Trichy start getting crowded

TNSTC buses in Trichy start getting crowded

Deepak.Karthik@timesgroup.com

09.06.2020

Trichy: A week after TNSTC (Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation) resumed services, Trichy region has witnessed a two-fold increase in passenger footfall. Although ensuring social distancing has become an uphill task for TNSTC crew, passengers were found tendering exact change for purchasing travel tickets to avoid cash exchange due to Covid-19 scare.

TNSTC Trichy operates 180 city buses and 150 mofussil buses covering seven central districts. For the districts in other TNSTC zones, the buses are operated till the borders of Trichy district with Karur, Namakkal, Madurai and Dindigul districts.

As labourers from central districts heading to textile units in Tirupur and Karur are gradually increasing, TNSTC said that Trichy-Karur buses operated till Pettaivaithalai has witnessed a drastic surge in footfall. Buses on other routes such as Trichy-Thanjavur have also seen increased patronage due to office goers.

“From 10-15 passengers per bus from the origin point of the service, the number has increased to 25 per bus within a week. Police support was sought whenever we need to control unruly passengers,” a senior official with TNSTC Trichy said.

Crew members of mofussil TNSTC fleets said that passengers are bringing exact change for tickets, an unusual practice prior to the lockdown. “Passengers tender the exact change as they don’t want the cash or coins in our possession since the money would have come from many hands,” a conductor on Trichy-Pettaivaithalai bus added.

As there is a surge in patronage so is the difficulty in maintaining social distancing. Though the buses at the station of origin manage to ensure social distancing, it becomes difficult at intermediate bus stops with many passengers waiting. Such difficulties are not witnessed by point-to-point buses. “Though all the passengers wear facemasks, they confront us if we insist them not to sit too close,” another TNSTC crew member added.

Since private city and mofussil buses are not being operated in Trichy, a TNSTC official said that the patronage for buses is gradually increasing each day.

LIFE GOES ON

Some restaurants reopen, but customers stay away

Some restaurants reopen, but customers stay away

Yogesh.Kabirdoss@timesgroup.com

09.06.2020

Restaurants in Chennai gave preference to takeaway services over dine-in as businesses resumed on Monday after more than 70 days.

While the footfall was poor, only 10% eateries operated dine-in services, according to the owners’ association.

About 60% of eateries remained shut for a variety of reasons including absence of adequate manpower. Restaurant chains reopened selected branches but dine-in services increased the overall sale by only 5%. Industry sources said ever since the lockdown, sales at restaurants have shrunk by 80%.

K T Srinivasa Raja, managing director of Adyar Ananda Bhavan, said they opened 40 branches in and around Chennai. “We expected 200 to 300 visitors for fine dine-in on Monday. We have received about 50% to 60% of walk-ins for dine-in services. We are serving South Indian dishes,” he said.

M Ravi, president of The Chennai Hotels Association, said that 10% of additional restaurants were reopened for fine dine-in on Monday. “This pushed the number of restaurants operational in the city to 40%. However, the eateries are contemplating whether to close them again due to less footfall,” he said.

Even as footfall was poor, some curious individuals ventured out. Sameer, a city resident, who came along with his friend to an eatery in Pondy Bazaar, said he had been sourcing food from outside during the lockdown. “Now, I wanted to eat out and it drove me to the eatery on day one,” he said.

Not all restaurants followed government norms. A visit by TOI found that a leading restaurant at Pondy Bazaar was serving its customers in an airconditioned facility, while a vegetarian restaurant at Mylapore let customers sit close to each other. The state has ordered that commercial establishments cannot use airconditioners.

FEW TAKERS: A man waits for a meal at a restaurant in Chennai

Elderly at home? Maintain social distancing

Elderly at home? Maintain social distancing

Saranya.Chakrapani@timesgroup.com

09.06.2020

There’s one ritual city-based media professional Ashwin S has been following for two decades. Come home from school, college or office, head straight to the kitchen, and give his mother a tight hug before even heading to change. However, for the first time in these years, the 35-year-old has had to break the tradition.

With his mom now touching 70, he ensures she’s at a safe distance when he returns home from work in the evening and reserves the hug for later. “Ever since I got back to work, I consciously avoid groups of people inside the office, don’t use the canteen,” says Ashwin.

Living with elderly parents and grandparents calls for extreme caution as they are susceptible to infection due to old age and comorbidities. Meenu S, a Pallikaranai resident, has downloaded every app she could find to drop home the day’s milk, vegetables and provisions at a low cost without the need for physical contact. “I ensure the produce we get is thoroughly cleaned in a mixture of turmeric and neem leaves before it enters the kitchen,” she says.

Dr Abdul Ghafur, infectious diseases specialist, says youngsters stepping out for work or otherwise may try to keep a safe distance from elderly family members. “If you have symptoms like a running nose, cough or fever, stay away,” he says.

Geriatrician Dr V S Natarajan emphasizes that it is as important to keep seniors at home in good spirits during this period. “Many of them watch the news extensively and may get anxious. They may even miss physical activity like going for walks and meeting neighbours. Keep them engaged, dine with them and let them know they are safe,” he says