As cases rise, several states go slow on data

As cases rise, several states go slow on data

Atul Thakur & Rema Nagarajan  20.06.2020

The data on Covid-19 in India put out on a daily basis by the Centre and states is severely limited, with few states being notable exceptions. Among the states, the worst offenders are Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, which release no daily data online as well as Delhi, Telangana, Jharkhand and Assam, which give only the bare minimum.

The Union health ministry gives only cumulative data on cases, deaths, active cases and the recovered on a particular date for various states, but without any time series showing the disease’s progression. The district-wise data it used to put out earlier is no longer released.

Like the Centre, Delhi too has regressed over time.

Earlier, the Delhi government’s daily bulletins gave details of the number of hospitalised cases including a break-up of how many were in ICU, on ventilators and the numbers being treated in the various government and private hospitals. It also gave hospital-wise death data and the number of new cases.

Public data has shrunk to a single page

From a two-page detailed bulletin, data in the public domain has shrunk to a single page with hospital-wise data, age group wise case fatality rate and other such details disappearing.

Karnataka puts out the most detailed data right down to the taluk level, followed by Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. While most states have dedicated websites linked from the health ministry site for sharing all Covid-related data, in Uttar Pradesh there is no data in the public domain. The data is shared with the media by the information department but cannot be accessed in any one place by the public. Bihar too has no website with all the data in one place. Instead, whatever data is shared is tweeted every day.

With most states providing either only cumulative data or only details of the day in their daily bulletins, anyone seeking to analyse the data has to do so by collating the data from each state’s daily bulletins or updates. Barring Karnataka, the district is the lowest administrative unit for which Covid data is available. There is no official centralised database for districts and no district-wise cumulative data even at the state-level.

Andhra Pradesh used to give district and mandal/taluk-wise data, but stopped doing so about a month ago. In Madhya Pradesh too, the amount of information given has been curbed. Earlier, information on availability of test kits used to be given, but that has been stopped.

Full report on www.toi.in

States must give test results to patient: SC

States must give test results to patient: SC

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  20.06.2020

The Supreme Court on Friday termed the Maharashtra government’s decision not to provide a copy of Covid-19 test result to the patient or his/her relative “illogical” and directed other states not to follow the same example.

A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M R Shah said it was strange on the part of the Maharashtra government to deny a copy of the test report to a patient if it showed that he/she was found positive. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta said, “There is no logic behind this decision. If one undergoes a test, he/she has a right to know the result of the test. When a report of the patient is positive, the same shall be given to the patient or his relatives.”

Taking steps to stop other states from emulating Maharashtra’s example, the bench said, “We have no doubt that states and all concerned shall supply a copy of the report of the patient to him or his relatives and the hospital.” The SC ordered that a copy of the application, which pointed out Maharashtra’s decision, be given to the SG and the counsel for the state.

Full report on www.toi.in

Health workers taking saliva of Bengaluru cops for Covid test on Friday

SC: Review call on -ve certificates for expats

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Kerala government and the foreign ministry to consider a complaint against Kerala’s decision making Covid negative certificate mandatory for those flying in to the state from abroad by chartered flights. The petitioner questioned the June 11 order which said that starting June 20, all passengers boarding flights to Kerala should have a Covid-19 negative certificate. TNN

Girl without smartphone fails to attend online classes, kills herself

Girl without smartphone fails to attend online classes, kills herself

Rupak Banerjee TNN

Howrah: 20.06.2020

A Class X girl committed suicide in Howrah’s Nischinda on Thursday evening for not being able to attend her school’s online classes as she didn’t have a computer or a smartphone. The deceased, Shibani Kumari Sau (16), was found hanging in her room at Nischinda’s Rajchandrapur. No suicide note was found in the room.

Her father Santu Sau, a truck owner-cum-driver, said Shibani studied in an English-medium school in Bally. “She was my youngest child. Before lockdown 1.0, my wife, my eldest son and I went to our native home in Bihar’s Samastipur. Shibani and my other son Shivom stayed back at Nischinda. The siblings shared a smartphone, which got damaged after it accidentally fell from Shivom’s hand on March 26. They could not get it repaired during the lockdown.”

“Shibani’s online classes commenced 10 days ago. She feared she would fail for being unable to attend online classes and was very depressed. She called me on Wednesday from another mobile phone — a push-button handset and infor med me of her concer ns. I told her that I would get back to Nischinda and buy her a smartphone. I asked her not to get disheartened and gather the class notes she had missed from her classmates. I obviously couldn’t drive it into her,” Santu said.

On Thursday, Shivom left for his cricket practice after lunch. On returning around 6pm, he grew suspicious after Shibani didn’t open the door despite his repeated knocks. On looking through a window, he was shocked to see her hanging from a door panel inside.

A police officer said, “An investigation has started. We haven’t found a suicide note. Preliminary investigation shows the girl took her life out of depression over not being able to pursue her studies.”

A probe has started. We haven’t found a suicide note. Preliminary investigation shows the girl took her life out of depression over not being able to pursue her studies, said police

Jain’s condition worsens, plasma therapy likely

Jain’s condition worsens, plasma therapy likely

DurgeshNandan.Jha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  20.06.2020

State health minister Satyendar Jain, who was admitted to Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty hospital for Covid-19 treatment two days ago, was shifted to a private healthcare facility as his condition deteriorated on Friday.

In his CT scan, doctors found that lung infection and pneumonia had increased. Jain had been feeling very tired and giddy since the morning, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Friday while commenting about the 55-year-old’s condition.

Sources said he would be undergoing plasma therapy at Max Smart, Saket, where he is currently admitted. He has been kept in the ICU and is not able to maintain oxygen saturation despite full oxygen support. “His condition isn’t critical, but he needs continuous monitoring. Also, we feel plasma therapy may help him recover faster,” said a source.

Max Healthcare didn’t issue any official statement on the minister’s condition or treatment plan. However, sources confirmed that plasma therapy was planned to be administered on Friday night itself. “The hospital will use plasma stored in the blood bank,” said a source.

Covid-19 is known to damage lung function in severe cases. Oxygen support is necessitated when a patient is not able to breathe on his or her own. In rare cases, ventilator support is also needed. If the patient’s lung function deteriorates further, it has a cascading effect on other organs and sometimes leads to death.

Plasma therapy, many doctors believe, helps reduce the severity of the disease, thus saving lives. As people fight the novel coronavirus infection, they produce antibodies that attack the virus. These antibodies are secreted by immune cells known as B lymphocytes, which is found in plasma or liquid part of the blood and helps in clotting when needed, and supports immunity.

A person who recovers from the infection develops antibodies that stay in the blood waiting to fight the virus should it return. The concept behind administering plasma therapy is that the antibodies present in the blood of a patient who has recovered from the disease may help those fighting it. One person’s donation of plasma can help two people.

“Plasma therapy isn’t new. It was used on an experimental basis even during the devastating 1918 flu, apart from treating measles in the 1930s. More recently, plasma therapy has been used to treat victims of Ebola, SARS and H1N1 influenza,” said a doctor.

This year, an early review of five critically ill Covid-19 patients in China found that they appeared to improve after receiving convalescent plasma. Many medical institutions across India are also conducting trials.

In Satyendar Jain’s CT scan, doctors found that lung infection and pneumonia had increased

Nursing students to man ICU wards

Nursing students to man ICU wards

All Existing Beds In Delhi Govt Covid Hospitals To Be Connected With Oxygen Supply

AlokKNMishra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: 20.06.2020

To better manage the ICU wards in its Covid hospitals, Delhi government has decided to deploy within four days final-year postgraduate and undergraduate nursing students in these wards for six months.

All final-year postgraduate doctors studying in Delhi’s PG medical institutions will also be deployed in the state government’s Covid hospitals for the same period.

The decisions were taken in a meeting deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia held on Friday with senior health department officials to discuss the augmentation of the ICU beds in the capital. Currently, over 850 Covid-19 patients are admitted to ICU.

The government has also decided to connect all existing beds in its Covid hospitals with oxygen supply in the next 10 days.

As most of the PG medical institutions in Delhi are affiliated with Guru Govind Singh Indraprastha University, Mahesh Verma, its vicechancellor, has been appointed for the recruitment and deployment of the required number of final-year MD/MS/DNB and nursing students. “Verma is also authorised to recommend necessary stipend payable to the recruits,” stated the order issued by Sisodia, who is in charge of the health department in the absence of health minister Satyendra Jain. All recruitments will be completed in four days.

The number of Covid-19 cases has surged past 50,000 in the capital, increasing the demand for ICU beds in government hospitals. “Hence, it was decided to ramp up the ICU infrastructure at the earliest,” an official said. The biggest problem, as reported in the meeting, is the shortage of the manpower to run ICU beds, he added.

“Most of the existing beds currently have oxygen supply and in the next 10 days, the rest will have the facility,” said Sisodia. “If any hospital is in urgent need of any kind, the government will fully support it. The medical chiefs of all hospitals have been directed to increase their bed capacity and all other requirements because the coronavirus cases are rising in the city,” he added.

Beds with oxygen supply will also be installed at the newly constructed Ambedkar Hospital.

MANISH SISODIA SAYS

Medical chiefs of all hospitals have been directed to boost their bed capacity and all other requirements

How you can assist in govt’s Covid fight

How you can assist in govt’s Covid fight

AlokKNMishra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  20.05.2020

With the number of the novel coronavirus infections soaring, Delhi government has decided to engage volunteers from NGOs, NCC, NSS, Scouts and civil society to strengthen the fight against Covid-19. The idea is to make the fight a mass movement.

Volunteers would be roped in to survey suspected cases, for surveillance and management of isolation cases, helpline assistance, aid to senior citizens, provide support to government and temporary hospitals, besides any other services that would be required in mitigation of the disease.

People who have recovered from Covid-19 and are willing to share their experience and help the infected would also be roped in. With the number of cases crossing 50,000, the government is facing an acute shortage of manpower.

Making an appeal, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted: “Delhi will fight coronavirus together. I appeal to all NGOs and individuals to join in this effort on a large scale.” Even lieutenant governor Anil Baijal tweeted: “Volunteers and NGOs are invited to join Delhi’s fight against Covid-19. Join hands, Together we can! They can register on “Serve as volunteer in the fight against Covid-19” on delhi.gov.in.”

Delhi government chief secretary Vijay Dev had directed the IT department to develop a portal to enable willing volunteers to register online. Only those aged between 18 and 55 may volunteer, provided they are healthy and asymptomatic. Recovered patients would also be allowed to register. “The district administration may utilise the service of these people in confidence building measures, besides other activities,” a government order stated.

All 11 district magistrates would be writing to the organisations concerned to obtain names and details of cadets of NCC, NSS and Scouts residing in their district. Volunteers of NGOs and civil service organisations would be allowed to select the district in which they want to work and be allocated work in areas where they reside.

The volunteers would be working under the district surveillance officer and given orientation to enable them to effectively carry out the tasks assigned to them. As a token of motivation, the volunteers would be given a certificate in recognition of their services in the fight against Covid-19.

Two days after TOI had reported about the shortage of manpower in Delhi government hospitals, the issue was discussed in the meeting chaired by Union home minister Amit Shah and attended by Baijal, Kejriwal and other senior officials to review the Covid-19 situation in the city. Shah directed the officials to develop a scheme to enroll volunteers in the fight against the virus.

Why you shouldn’t panic even as count crosses 50k

Why you shouldn’t panic even as count crosses 50k

3,137 New Cases In Last 24 Hrs; More Testing Also Behind Rise

DurgeshNandan.Jha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: 20.06.2020

The daily count of Covid-19 in Delhi crossed the 3,000 mark on Friday with 3,137 people testing positive for the viral infection. This is the highest single-day tally reported in the national capital.

Delhi’s total tally has now reached 53,116, while the death toll has mounted to 2,035, including 65 fatalities reported in the past 24 hours, the government data shows. Sources in the health department acknowledged that the infection was spreading at an alar ming rate.

They, however, added that the increased number of cases could be due to more testing. “Till about a week ago, we were testing only about 5,000 samples daily. It has more than doubled and, therefore, more cases that went undiagnosed earlier are being picked up,” said a senior official. “It is a good thing and shall help in taking actions such as isolation and contact tracing of direct contacts of persons to limit any further spread,” he added.

Dr Randeep Guleria, the director of AIIMS, said as testing numbers went up, the surge was likely to get more visible. “The silver lining is that the majority of patients are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. So far, we haven’t seen a large increase in the need for hospitalisation or deaths due to the disease,” he said.

As per the latest data on the availability of Covid beds, 44% of the beds are lying vacant. Of the 601 ventilator beds, 41% are vacant.

Among government hospitals, Lok Nayak and Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) hospitals have maximum1,301and1,237 vacant beds, respectively. The total Covid beds in these two hospitals are 2,000 and 1,500, meaning 65% and 82% of their beds are still lying vacant. AIIMS Jhajjar has 725 beds, of which 38% are vacant. Among private designated facilities, Batra and Venkateshwar hospitals have maximum 353 and 304 vacant beds, as per the Delhi Corona app on Friday.

“Given the speed at which new cases are surging, the crisis may go out of hand if stricter measures aren’t adopted to trace and isolation positive cases,” Dr Vinay Aggarwal, an executive member of Delhi Medical Council, said.

WHO director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, while commenting on the prevailing situation globally, said on Friday that the pandemic was in a new and dangerous phase. “People are fed up with isolating, but the spread of the virus is accelerating,” he added. Many health experts in India are calling for lockdown measures in areas affected highly by the outbreak.

72 5  BEDS AT AIIMS JHAJJAR, 38% OF WHICH ARE LYING VACANT

2 varsities get new names

2 varsities get new names

Bengaluru:  20.06.2020

The government on Friday issued an ordinance renaming and elevating Government Science College as Nrupathunga Autonomous University.

Amending the Karnataka State Universities Act, the government appointed a special officer till a vice-chancellor for the new university is selected.

The government also renamed Bengaluru Central University as Bengaluru City University to avoid confusion with central government-run varsities.

Both decisions were taken at last week’s cabinet meeting. TNN

Postponed again: ComedK on Aug 1

Postponed again: ComedK on Aug 1

20.06.2020

The Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (ComedK), which had decided to conduct the UGET examination on July 25, has now deferred it to August 1.

The exam was earlier rescheduled from June 27 to July 25 after students raised concerns about the risks involved in appearing for the exam amid the pandemic.

ICSE/ISC students divided over taking pending exams

TESTING TIME

ICSE/ISC students divided over taking pending exams

SruthySusan.Ullas@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:20.06.2020

While the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has given its class 10 and 12 candidates the choice to either take the pending exams or opt for pre-board or internal assessment (IA) marks, students in Bengaluru are a divided lot.

Some schools said a large number of their students would still like to take the pending exams. “Majority of our students are of the opinion that they want to write the remaining exams. They have prepared well during the break and are sure they’d outperform their pre-boards,” said Gayethri Devi, principal, Little Flower Public School.

Brigade School Malleswaram too has a majority of its students wanting to write the test. “Many students feel safe to write the exams as Bengaluru is not as badly hit by Covid-19 as other metros. During our meeting with parents and students, there were concerns raised about social distancing and the areas from where invigilators would come,” said Anuradha Benegal, principal.

At Bethany High, 32% students have responded, and 24% are opting for the exam. “Some students feel that schools are not lenient in giving marks for pre-boards. So they prepare more thoroughly for the mains,” said Robert Khin, principal.

Vidyashilp Academy says the class is exactly split into two on this topic. “Seventyeight per cent of the students responded. Of this, half want the exams and the other half doesn’t. The others are still weighing the options,” said school head Kalai Selvi.

“Some students who did well in prep exams and do not want to go through the drill again will opt for the IA marks. But, there are others who want to write the exams. Since the Council has extended the last date to June 24, we have given them plenty of time to decide,” said Christy Glory Shanthi, principal of Cathedral Composite PU College and High School.

Paying without staying is a burden, say students in PGs

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:  20.06.2020

Students staying in paying guest (PG) accommodations in the city are being forced to shell out almost the entire rent amount even though they have been away in their hometowns for the last two months. This may not have been a problem but for the pandemic that is taking a financial toll on their families.

Arvind, 22, a student at a city university, said he left his PG on April 14 and has since paid Rs 7,000 for the months of April and May. “For June, the owner agreed to reduce the rent to Rs 6,000 after repeated requests. But that is still a lot considering we are neither living there nor using any amenities like water, electricity or WiFi,” Arvind, who is from Kerala, said. His mother has taken a 50% salary cut and his father is earning 30% less than usual owing to the health crisis.

Arvind says the PG owner even threatened the students saying he’d shift all their stuff into one room and not give anything back till they paid rent. “We don’t even know when the university will reopen and when we will return,” he said.

Another student, Kapil, 21, who is also in his hometown in Kerala, thinks PG owners need to be more empathetic. “ We were told to vacate the rooms if payment was a concern. They don’t understand that this is an uncertain situation. If our universities and colleges decided to reopen on short notice, it’d be a nightmare to hunt for another accommodation,” he said.

Sandhya, 21, says shifting PGs at such times won’t be easy either for owners or for tenants. “Reducing rent for a few months would help everyone,” she added.

(Names of students changed on request)

Full report: toi.in

TIMES VIEW

The humane thing for landlords to do would be to charge a nominal fee from their paying guests as a sort of reservation charge on the occupied rooms. It's not the same as an opportunity cost, because, in the current environment, they are unlikely to find new tenants, and will most likely not receive any rent at all if they lose their current occupants. But it appears most PG owners are just being avaricious. It’s quite clear that people are in unprecedented difficulty because of the pandemic, but to ignore that and insist on full rent shows a lack of empathy.

‘PANDEMIC HAS HIT EVERYONE’

Ramakrishnappa, a PG owner, said he has heard many such complaints and gave a discount to students living in his PG. ''I have never forced anyone to vacate the PG, but the pandemic has hit us all. Even I have a family to look after,” he said.

K’taka may have 1 lakh +ve cases by Aug 15

K’taka may have 1 lakh +ve cases by Aug 15

ALARMING SCENARIO Number Of Cases In State Doubling Every 15 Days; Can Be Curbed If Everyone Follows SOPs Diligently

Health Department Uses Doubling Rate Number And Current Pace Of Spread

Sandeep.Moudgal@timesgroup.com  20.06.2020

Bengaluru: A state health department’s projection based on current pace of spread indicates that the number of Covid-19 cases in the state will hit the 1-lakh mark by August 15.

This projection is based on the doubling rate which took into account the current rate of positive cases, transmission potential and average number of secondary infections produced by a typical Covid-positive case in a population where everyone is susceptible.

“In Karnataka, we’re seeing a doubling rate every 15 days. Based on this, our prediction suggests that the state may touch up to 1 lakh cases by August 15,” said Munish Moudgil who is in charge of the Covid-19 War Room.

He said the estimation is based on the current trend while cases are rising across the state. If there is any improvement from the present situation, the least they expect is between 50,000 and 60,000 cases.

For Karnataka to prove the prediction wrong, every individual must practise hygiene norms of wearing a mask, repeatedly washing hands and maintaining social distancing norms. “This will reduce the progression of the virus by 60% to 70%,” he said.

Debunking prediction models, additional chief secretary (health) Jawaid Akthar said the only reliable mechanism of reflecting the ground reality is taking an average of the daily numbers. “While we have conducted two or three studies, including one by our expert committee, these do not give us a fair idea of virus progression rate simply because there are too many variables. In hindsight, we’ve seen that these models are nowhere close to reality,” said Akthar.

The health department, he said, used the average rate of positive cases on a week-by-week basis as the premise for predictions and, therefore, preparations. “With that in mind, we do consider prediction models by various groups and experts to map out our strategies,” he said.

However, many government officials and experts believe projection rates and prediction models will create only panic among citizens and the government does not want to come up with possible numbers.

DOUBLY SAFE: BBMP workers sanitise Vidhana Soudha premises. (Right) A Congress worker thermal-checks people while distributing masks on Friday

PERMANENT STAFF ONLY

AI offers 3 working-day week at 60% of salary

Saurabh.Sinha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  20.06.2020

Air India will now give its permanent employees, except pilots and cabin crew, the option of a “shorter working week” where they will work three days a week at 60% pay. The scheme, applicable with immediate effect from Friday, is voluntary and can be opted for a year to begin with and extendable to two years, subject to the airline’s approval.AI has 13,000 permanent employees with a monthly wage bill of Rs 230 crore. The airline did not say what savings it expects from the move as the same will be known depending on how many employees opt for it. 

In another decision on Friday, the airline introduced a “special quarantine leave on exposure to Covid-19” where an employee, who has come in contact with an infected person — like crew of a flight on which a passenger tested positive — or has tested positive, will be immediately sent on home quarantine for 14 days as per airline/government advice. “Duration of home quarantine shall be 14 days from the date of contact with a confirmed case. He/ she shall be granted quarantine leave with pay for 14 days, which shall not be debited from his/ her leave account,” an office order said. Employees opting for shorter working week have been asked not to take up any other employment during the period they avail of this option.

“Since the employee opting for this scheme will be on the payrolls of the company, it is mandatory that (he/she) shall not take up any employment during the period, in addition to his/her job in the company. lf this condition is violated, disciplinary action (will be taken as per rules)

…..” Employees opting for this scheme will be required to work on any three days during the week.

Covid-hit Delhi health minister’s condition worsens, moved to private hospital ICU

New Delhi:  20.06.2020

Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain, battling the coronavirus infection, was moved to the ICU of the private Max Hospital from a city government-run facility after his condition deteriorated on Friday, sources said.

The sources indicated that the 55-year-old minister is likely to undergo plasma therapy though there was no official confirmation. Doctors at the government hospital said he has been diagnosed with pneumonia and his oxygen saturation level has also dipped, prompting the hospital authorities to shift him to an intensive care unit.

“He was brought to Max Hospital, Saket in the evening and admitted in ICU,” a source said. Jain was earlier admitted at the Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital (RGSSH), a dedicated COVID-19 facility under the city government in east Delhi. AGENCIES

UP man marries statue to make father happy

Kapil.Dixit@timesgroup.com

Prayagraj  20.06.2020

: Fulfilling one’s parents’ wishes is desirable, but a 32-year-old man took it to another level when he married a statue to make his father happy. According to reports, Panch Raj of Bhaidpur area of Ghurpur village, about 35km from Prayagraj district, tied the knot with a statue of a bride on Tuesday evening.

His father, a retired Indian Railways employee Shiv Mohan Pal, 90, said, “I have nine sons and three daughters and 11 of them are married. My eighth son Panch Raj is uneducated, mentally challenged and is jobless. He has to rely on other family members for the simplest of tasks. I didn’t want to spoil any girl’s future by getting him married.”

“However, I also didn’t want him to be unmarried as my ancestors believed that if a person dies unmarried, his family members can’t perform his ‘terharvi sanskar’ (last rituals in Hindu religion). I was worried that Panch Raj’s soul won’t rest in peace if he dies unmarried,” he added.

Given the circumstances, the elderly man consulted relatives and decided to get Panch Raj married to a statue.

Full report on www.toi.in

Distribution of expired meds: Probe ordered

Karal.Marx@timesgroup.com

Vellore:  20.06.2020

A probe has been initiated by the Ranipet administration to find out if ‘expired’ multi-vitamins were distributed to residents in a Covid-19 containment zone in Sholinghur town panchayat in the district.

A district health officer said on the condition of anonymity that a female nurse working at Gururajapettai primary health centre and a resident of Sholinghur tested positive for Covid on Tuesday. To contain the spread, health and revenue officials sealed the fourth ward where the nurse was residing and declared it a containment zone.

Five neighbours were quarantined in their houses and provided immunity rich tablets, including Zinc and Vitamin C. Health workers attached to Sholinghur PHC distributed the multi-vitamins to occupants of the five houses, said a district health officer, not willing to be quoted.

A local resident, who witnessed the distribution of the multi-vitamins, said, “The incident took place on Thursday after the Zinc tablets distributed by the health workers were found to have expired. We found that the tablets were manufactured in February 2018 and it had expired in January 2020.”

When residents questioned the health workers, they said the expired tablet strips had somehow got into the package along with other medicines which had expiry date as April 2021.

“Though the health workers apologised profusely for the mistake and took back the expired tablets from us, we are worried that this may be happening in other containment zones too. The district administration should probe the issue,” said the resident, seeking anonymity.

When contacted by TOI, Ranipet district collector S Divyadarshini said, “We have demanded an explanation from the health staff who were involved in the distribution.

A team headed by Ranipet joint director health I Yasmin and district health officer Velmurugan have been directed to probe the matter. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against the person if the allegations are found true,” said the collector.

Ranipet district health officer Velmurugan said, “Following complaints from residents of Sholinghur 4th ward, we are conducting a door-to-door check in the containment zones. So far, we have not found any multivitamins that were distributed to be expired. An inquiry is on with the health workers and drug in-charge of Sholinghur PHC,” he said.

Why shut meat shops, ask traders, consumers

Why shut meat shops, ask traders, consumers

‘Essential For Us, Regulate Like Veggie Outlets’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:20.06.2020

The sudden announcement of closing all meat shops and slaughterhouses in city limits has taken vendors and consumers by shock. The move has become a point of heated discussion with people asking — ‘why such an illogical decision was taken?’ “We heard about the move only last night. When we tried asking authorities the reason behind this, they had no answers,” said R Kareem, general secretary of the South Chennai Mutton Traders Association. He pointed out that during the previous lockdown, the local authorities had regulated timings but allowed them to open meat stalls for business. “They should have at least informed us a few days in advance... Our livelihoods will be severely affected.”

Kareem said the traders and sellers will have to incur huge losses as maintaining the livestock costs thousands of rupees a day. “Without income, how will we manage?”

“Sales that dipped during the previous lockdowns was picking up, but this move will further losses,” said S Salauddin, president, Chennai Mutton Merchant (retailers) Association.

Sellers also complained cold storage facility wasn’t available in the city, “With no place to store the meat nor means to sell it, tonnes will be going to waste,” said Abdul Mohammad, a mutton seller.

Even egg sale in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpet and Tiruvallur districts, where the 12-day lockdown has been imposed, will be affected, A Singaraj, president of Tamil Nadu Poultry Farmers Association. “But the exact market status will be known only after two days,” said. The districts consume 50 lakh eggs daily, Chennai the most, and added the cost of eggs may drop if stocks go up in farms.

This government’s decision to stop online sales of meat is also being widely debated on social media. A few have asked authorities to explain the logic behind implementing this move while regulating timings for other stores selling vegetables and groceries.

On March 23, the ministry of animal husbandry, dairy, and fisheries wrote to chief secretaries of all states asking them to include chicken, eggs, and meat in the list of essential commodities.

“Meat is an essential item for us. How can the state stop it? The authorities must regulate these stores like the rest,” said T Usha, a consumer.

INTO THE BIN: A trader dumps around 3 tonnes of fish and crabs into a garbage bin at Villivakkam market. Greater Chennai Corporation has ordered closure of all fish and meat shops in its limits during the 12-day lockdown that began on Friday

Chennai returnees not welcome in rest of TN

Chennai returnees not welcome in rest of TN

Yogesh.Kabirdoss@timesgroup.com

Chennai:  20.06.2020

City residents making an exodus to their hometowns across Tamil Nadu are greeted with suspicion of being ‘super-spreaders’ of Covid-19. The Chennai returnees are not just closely monitored by the district administrations but also by neighbours who are quick to report them. In some villages in southern parts of the state, new visitors are directed to undergo Covid-19 test.

Parts of southern TN such as Madurai, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin have been seeing more Covid-19 cases, primarily due to those returning from Chennai. A sizeable number of people from the city are making their way into rest of Tamil Nadu illegally without e-passes.

The district control room in Coimbatore is recording a rise in complaints about people from Chennai. In the past three days, it received 60 calls, largely pertaining to movement of people from Chennai and other places, who have entered Coimbatore. However, officials concerned were quick to add that they have not come across any instance of returnees being discriminated or harassed.

Extremely vigilant citizens in some districts in central TN alert officials almost immediately they come across a returnee. Kumar* (*name changed) had a taste of it within hours of reaching his hometown, Thanjavur, with his family on a valid e-pass early on Sunday. “Within three hours of us reaching there, health officials from Thanjavur Municipal Corporation knocked on our doors and asked us to undergo Covid-19 test. The official told us that neighbours had alerted the authorities about our visit,” he said.

District collectors T G Vinay (Madurai), Shilpa Prabhakar Satish (Tirunelveli), Sandeep Nanduri (Tuticorin) and Prashant M Wadnere (Kanyakumari) told TOI that vigilance by villagers at the grass root level was a key factor helping them identify those who sneaked past check posts without e-passes.

Thambi Bhagyakumar of Vilavancode, which is close to the inter-state border in Kanyakumari district, said they were doubly cautious. “Villagers also inform the local body member or health official if those who returned from Chennai, who are supposed to be under quarantine for 14 days, leave the house or entertain visitors,” he added.

(With inputs from M K Ananth from Madurai and A Subburaj from Coimbatore)

Within three hours of us reaching Thanjavur, health officials from the municipal corporation knocked on our doors and asked us to undergo the Covid-19 test. An official told us that some people had alerted the authorities about our visit

Hoax bomb call to Rajini was by Class VIII student

Hoax bomb call to Rajini was by Class VIII student

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:20.06.2020

The search for the person who made a hoax bomb call to actor Rajinikanth’s residence in Poes Garden has led to a Class VIII student from a village near Cuddalore, who is suffering from learning difficulties, police said.

Soon after the call was made on Thursday, a team of police officials and Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad rushed to the actor’s house.

Due to Covid-19, the actor’s family members initially refused to let the team in to check the house for bombs. The officials later declared the call a hoax.

When the members of the investigating team tried to trace the number from which the call came, they had to rope in their counterparts in Cuddalore. The search was narrowed down on the student.

The student was let off after police scrutinised his medical records. Meanwhile, the boy’s father has released a video pleading with the actor to forgive his son.

E-pass agency under pressure

E-pass agency under pressure

D.Govardan@timesgroup.com  20.06.2020

The 12-day lockdown imposed in Chennai, Thiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpet districts from Friday is giving the Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency a tough time. Problems for the agency, which is working with one-third staff, have multiplied as companies and individuals have made multiple requests for passes.

“Each organization is supposed to make only one application. In that they can include names of even 5,000 people, if those many are permitted to work. Instead, several companies are submitting multiple applications, even hundreds in a few cases, and that has choked the whole system,” a senior official with the agency told TOI.

If one company has made 135 applications, in the case of another the company’s president and its security guard have applied separately. “Some of them have done this out of anxiety, while some others deliberately to get more employees to work,” the official said.

A company had submitted seven applications, giving the total number of employees differently in each application. This way it had planned to get more than 10% employees to work in the districts, where lockdown is imposed.

“Companies also submit registration number of vans but show them as cars. This way, they get to transport more people using that epass. Initially when lockdown was announced, we cleared all request for passes in two days and issued even 14,000 passes in one day. We trusted people and the job was easy. But with people now choking the system with multiple applications and concealing facts, verification is taking time. This has also put requests from genuine applicants in jeopardy,” the official pointed out.

An overburdened system and delay in issuing e-passes resulted in chaos in the companies too. “Lockdown was announced on Monday evening, but the system to apply fresh e-passes was made available on Thursday evening. As a result, some companies were forced to shut down operations on Friday. Further, the agency need not have cancelled all the old epasses and could have alerted about the one organization, one application policy - on the website itself,” an industry source said.

No OBC quota for med seats in state institutes, Centre tells HC

No OBC quota for med seats in state institutes, Centre tells HC

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:20.06.2020

The Centre is unlikely to admit Other Backward Community (OBC) students under All India Quota (AIQ) medical seats in all government institutions unless the Supreme Court comprehensively settles the pending issue, the Centre has told Madras high court.

Since 1986, OBC medical aspirants were being accommodated in AIQ seats in central institutions only, and not in all state government colleges, it said. Taking a dig at political parties before the court, the Centre said: “The method has been followed even when most of the petitioners (political parties) were in power through their alliance in the past.”

A submission to this effect was made by the Centre, in response to a batch of PILs filed by major political parties, including the DMK, AIADMK and PMK.

Pointing out that AIQ pool seats comprise 15% of all MBBS seats and 50% of PG medical seats surrendered by state governments to the Centre, these parties have been demanding 50% reservation for OBC students, as per the 69% reservation followed in TN. Assuming only the central rule will be followed for AIQ seat allotments, at least 27% of seats should be reserved for OBC candidates, they argue. Responding to the PILs, the Centre said it has been allotting AIQ seats for OBC beneficiaries only in central govt institutions, but added that in respect of SC/ST students, it has been extending the quota in all medical institutions.

Intervening now will affect Covid treatment: Centre

An affidavit to this effect was filed by the Centre before the Supreme Court, which is already seized of a batch of writ petitions seeking reservation benefits for OBCs. The case is slated to come up again for hearing on July 8, it said. To avail themselves of similar reservation benefits, these parties should be directed to get themselves impleaded in the pleas pending before the Supreme Court, the Centre said.

As for the interim prayers of these parties to stall the ongoing admissions for PG medical courses, the Centre cautioned the high court against intervening in the process, saying it would adversely affect Covid-19 treatment across the country.

The director-general of health services conducted the selection for admission to PG medical courses for the year 2020-21 and declared the results on April 11 as per the scheme in force and in strict compliance of the directions of the apex court, the Centre said, adding: “Results for second round of counselling were declared on June 16 and candidates are in the process of reporting to the allotted institutions. Any interim order at this stage would affect the hospitals to which the selected candidates were allotted more particularly, when there is shortage of medical staff due to Covid-19 pandemic. This apart, seats to medical courses should be filled within the time frame fixed by the apex court. Any interim order restraining the authorities from filling up the seats would affect compliance of the Supreme Court directive,” it said.

Thinking of flouting checks? Beware!

Thinking of flouting checks? Beware!

From Coimbatore to Karaikal, there were sevreral instances where people tried to give check posts a slip

Published: 18th June 2020 06:02 AM |

Chennai Health workers at rest while the Medical team of mobile hospital takes swap test at Police quarters at Kilpauk, Chennai. (Photo | R. Satish Babu, EPS)

By Express News Service

1.Coimbatore 

District Revenue Officials sealed a Xerox shop near the Sulur Tahsildar office for allegedly issuing fake e-passes to public, on Wednesday. Officials from Revenue Department said that, Manivannan, native of Tiruchendur, who works in Coimbatore, was travelling to his native on Tuesday. When his car was stopped at Virudhunagar Check Post, he showed an e-pass. However, a mismatch on the name of travellers was found, following which he was detained. He got e-pass for ` 2,500 and with investigation police zeroed in on the Xerox shop issuing fake e-passes, said sources.

2. Salem

The Salem City Municipal Corporation (SCMC) has registered cases against 17 persons who returned to Salem without obtaining e-passes from other districts and states. Police are conducting vehicle check at Salem border and are taking swab tests, but some people take alternate routes to evade checking. Till June 16, the SCMC identified 17 persons who evaded testing and out of them four tested positive for COVID-19.

3. Cuddalore

District collector warned strict action against those coming into the district without valid reasons and e-passes. After the State government announced that Chennai and its neighbouring three districts will undergo lockdown from June 19; several Cuddalore natives residing in those regions have started coming to Cuddalore. Due to this, the district has been witnessing surge in cases. The Cuddalore- Puducherry borders are being strictly monitored and many non-essential vehicles are sent back to Cuddalore and Villupuram from Puducherry check post, confirm sources.

4. Virudhunagar

Sources said that two persons - Raj* and Anita* - had returned to their home at Chinna Perali hamlet from Chennai, on May 18, with proper passes. They were checked at the checkpost, but since they were asymptomatic their swab samples were not taken. They were advised to be under home-quarantine. However, Raj flouted rules and being a Cooperative society manager, came into contact with more than 25 people. After seeing symptoms on May 25 he went to hospital along with his wife, where they both test Covid positive. Contact tracing is on.* name changed

5. NAGAPATTINAM

Police registered case against an army jawan on Wednesday allegedly for travelling and entering Nagapattinam without e-pass. Sources said the sepoy, a native of Thittacherri, travelled in a bus meant for migrant labourers and had kicked up a with officials at the check post . “The sepoy had come from New Delhi on annual vacation. He landed in Chennai and got on a SETC bus operated for migrant labourers to Sirkazhi. We are investigating how he managed to hop into the bus. We booked him as he prevented us from doing our duty, “ said an investigating officer from Kolidam Police Station. The sepoy refused to produce his ID card or an e-pass when officials checked passengers at Kollidam check post and picked up an argument. A scuffle broke out between him and police, sources said . Only when senior officials arrived on the scene, he showed his army identity card but did not have e-pass. He was booked.

6. Nagercoil

After a passenger who arrived at Thoothukudi airport from Chennai tested positive for Covid, 35 persons who travelled with him in a bus have been home-quarantined. Collector Prashant M Wadnere said the man took a bus to reach Kanniyakumari district. “While travelling in buses, passengers should wear masks, and maintain social distance,” he advised.

7. Karaikal

All dirt roads (katcha roads) leading to Karaikal have been closed and entry into the district made stricter from Wednesday. Karaikal District Collector Arjun Sharma said, “We have strengthened checking at all seven entry points of Karaikal district. We are shutting down all katcha roads which lead from Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur districts into Karaikal.”

Chennai, 3 districts turn into fortress for next 12 days

Chennai, 3 districts turn into fortress for next 12 days

As a starter, the arterial Anna Salai and Kamraj Salai , besides a number of other key roads in the city, will remain closed, except for ambulance services.

Published: 19th June 2020 06:14 AM |

Chennai goes into lockdown mode all over again. (Photo | Ashwin Prasath, EPS)EPS)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: As the clock ticks towards zero hour, Chennai and its adjoining districts will switch to an intense 12-day lockdown from Friday. The rationale behind Tamil Nadu government’s decision on Tuesday to put the lock back on Chennai, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur and Kancheeuram, which had enjoyed easing of curbs for a few days, is to check the spread of coronavirus in other parts of Tamil Nadu and the neighbouring states.

While the penultimate day saw more crowd on the roads, with people doing last-minute shopping for essentials and queuing up at checkposts to leave the hotspot zones that may seem like a fortress till June 30, the Chennai police has made elaborate arrangements to curb unnecessary movement of people and vehicles. A total of 17,000 police personnel will be deployed for this purpose, with the possibility of adding more officers if required.

As a starter, the arterial Anna Salai and Kamraj Salai , besides a number of other key roads in the city, will remain closed, except for ambulance services.Disclosing this to newspersons, Police Commissioner A K Viswanathan said vehicles seen roaming unnecessarily will be seized. He requested people to cooperate with the police and asked them to buy all essential commodities within a two-km radius from their house and avoid using vehicles.

“This is an extraordinary situation...the lockdown announced by the chief minister is aimed at protecting the people of Chennai and elsewhere, and they should also cooperate. Only this will help us come out of this (situation). We are losing precious lives,” he added.

While only autos and cabs plying to and from railway stations and airport will be given special passes, government employees, health workers, Corporation staff and journalists have been asked to carry their identity cards while commuting to work. People who travel across the Chennai city police limits for work are advised to stay on the side they have to work.

Viswanathan said the Chennai police have set up 288 check-posts and will use drones to monitor movement. He said the police will slap cases against people forging e-passes and those found roaming around without masks.

A day after a police officer succumbed to Covid, Viswanathan informed the media that 788 police personnel had so far tested positive and more than 300 of them had recovered and returned to active duty. At present, he said, 39 were recovering in hospitals, while others have been quarantined at their homes or Corporation care centres.

Chennai lockdown: Ola to offer emergency services on app from June 19

Chennai lockdown: Ola to offer emergency services on app from June 19 

Ola says they have mapped over 350 hospitals across Chennai into the app and the service will also be available for customers who need to travel to and from Airports and Railway stations. 

Published: 18th June 2020 05:53 PM |

Chennai goes into lockdown mode all over again. (Photo | Ashwin Prasath, EPS)EPS)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: With Chennai under intensified lockdown from June 19, Ola, one of India's more popular cab hailing services, has enabled 'Ola Emergency' services on its app. 

This should provide relief and a much-needed mode of transport to citizens who do not have private vehicles to travel to hospital in case of a medical emergency. 

Starting June 19, the company says the service will be available in Chennai for all non-COVID related medical trips from home to hospitals and vice versa. 

Ola says they have mapped over 350 hospitals across Chennai into the app and the service will also be available for customers who need to travel to and from Airports and Railway stations. 

The company in a press release said they have equipped all their driver-partners with hygiene kits, safety equipment and implemented a suite of precautionary and preventive measures.

On Wednesday, the Tamil Nadu government had relaxed the new lockdown norms to allow pre-paid autos, taxis and private vehicles to transport passengers from railway stations and airports.

Police personnel will be regulating these vehicles in railway stations and airports and e-pass will be issued by TN e-governance agency.

Use of private vehicles for medical emergencies was always allowed.

Chennai's door-to-door survey staff get 1000 pulse oximeters to monitor oxygen levels

Chennai's door-to-door survey staff get 1000 pulse oximeters to monitor oxygen levels

“There are cases where patients may be asymptomatic but have dangerously low oxygen levels (hypoxia). To detect this, we have asked survey staff to use pulse oximeters,” said a Corporation official

Published: 18th June 2020 05:36 PM 

A condition in which a person’s oxygen level in blood cells and tissues drop without any warning signs, silent hypoxia has already claimed the lives of many Covid-19 patients in the country.

By Nirupama Viswanathan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The city corporation has now equipped door-to-door survey staff with 1000 pulse oximeters to monitor oxygen levels of city residents.

“There are cases where patients may be asymptomatic but have dangerously low oxygen levels (hypoxia). To detect this, we have asked our survey staff to use pulse oximeters,” said a senior Corporation official.

“In some cases, they may gasp for air but in others there may not be any gasping, so it’s important to catch it early,” the official added.

With digital pulse oximeters costing Rs 1500 and upwards, several residents may not be able to access them, although the state government has recommended their use as part of ‘Corona home monitoring kits.’

Corporation officials believe this will also ensure that city residents take the door-to-door survey seriously.

“If you just go and ask them questions, some might get irritated although it’s for their own benefit that the survey is done every day. But when the staff go armed with pulse oximeters and infrared thermometers, residents will more willingly participate in the survey,” the official said.

Apart from the pulse oximeters, the city corporation has deployed 10,000 infrared thermometers to check the temperature of residents. The city corporation plans to increase the number of instruments in use shortly.

The city corporation has also planned to assign around 4000 volunteers to take care of the needs of those who tested positive and ensure that they stay indoors, if under home isolation.

Each volunteer will be assigned cases and will create a WhatsApp group with the patients or their immediate family, so that in case of any need, the patients may post in the group.

“After 14 days, the patients will be automatically removed from the groups,” said a Corporation official.