Covid beds up for sale for ₹9k in Rajkot Civil hosp

Covid beds up for sale for ₹9k in Rajkot Civil hosp

Hosp’s Attendant, Sweeper Detained

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Rajkot:22.04.2021 

“I won’t settle for anything less than Rs 9,000. Even I have to pay (part of this amount) to those inside (Rajkot Civil hospital). You will get the bed within 30 minutes.”

This is a part of the conversation between an agent and some relatives of a needy Covid-19 patient in Rajkot where hundreds have been braving blistering heat and waiting for hours to get admission into the Civil hospital for days together now.

On Wednesday, as the video of this backdoor entry deal went viral, the detection of crime branch (DCB) and Pradhyumannagar police station detained two persons - Jagdish Solanki (20) and Hitesh Mahida (18) - late in the night. Solanki works as an attendant in the hospital while Mahida is a sweeper. Both are residents of Jamnagar.

In the video, Solanki, sitting in the rear seat of the car, is heard asking for Rs 9,000 per bed while those negotiating with him reduce the amount. In between their conversation, Solanki gets a call and is heard telling the person on the other end, “ I won’t take anything less than Rs 9,000. If you have money, come in your vehicle at Chaudhary school and call me.”

Video grab of the incident where an alleged agent is taking cash

‘Attendant, sweeper exploited system loopholes’

VK Gadhvi, police inspector, crime branch told TOI, “They used the loopholes in the system to give backdoor entry to Covid patients in exchange for money. We will register an FIR against them after collecting more evidence.”

They admitted to have arranged a bed for only the relative whose video had gone viral.

Those negotiating with Solanki also assure there are more patients desperately seeking admission and they would direct all of them to him.

“I have to pay other people above me.. it’s very difficult at present to get a bed. There are many people taking this,” he says and answers in affirmative when asked “Do you have to pay the doctors also?. We thought these were your charges alone.”

The deal is finalized for Rs 8,000 and those giving him the money recorded the video handing over the amount to Solanki at an ATM of a nationalized bank.

At any given point of time, there are 50- 60 vehicles including cars and ambulances lined up at Chaudhary High School ground just behind the hospital. People even park their two-wheelers in the queue and when their turn nears, they call up home and ask relatives to bring the patient.

516 new cases, 77 deaths in Rajkot

Rajkot:

On Wednesday, Rajkot reported 516 new Covid cases in the district while 77 people succumbed in various Covid hospitals across the district in the past 24 hours ending on Wednesday morning. Jamnagar saw a new peak in new cases with 509 on Wednesday while 260 tested positive in Bhavnagar and 188 in Junagadh district. TNN

Inadequate toilet facilities at govt centres irk patients

Inadequate toilet facilities at govt centres irk patients

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:22.04.2021

Inadequate toilets seem to be the major concern for patients admitted at government-run Covid-19 care centres and hospitals in Chennai and its suburbs.

“There are only two toilets for every 20 patients,” said Ravi, a 38-year-old patient who got discharged from the Covid ward setup at Government Ophthalmic Hospital in Egmore.

Several research studies across the world have shown that toilet aerosols can spread the virus.

At present, more than 40% beds in Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) health centres are vacant now. Patients here too face similar issues and say that conditions could turn worse once these centres become crowded. A senior GCC official in response said that all toilets were cleaned and sanitised periodically to avoid spread.

As far as food is concerned, some hospitals don't provide soup or juice as it was done last year and patients fear that dehydration could delay their recovery. G Ganesh, attender of a Covid patient from Chengalpattu Government Medical College Hospital said that the hospital stopped providing eggs to patients this week and they request attenders to buy plates or buckets etc for patients’ use.

Doctors, however, say that a balanced protein-rich diet was ensured for all patients and they have received no major complaints so far.

In Chennai, hospitals like King’s Institute of Preventive Medicine and Research provide packed food prepared at private hotels. As a result, demand for admission in the institute at Guindy has shot up. Hardly three dozen beds are vacant in the 525-bedded facility.

In quarantine & too sick to cook? A hot meal is just a call away

In quarantine & too sick to cook? A hot meal is just a call away

Priya.Menon@timesgroup.com

Chennai:  22.04.2021 

When Jayalakshmi Sundaresan tested Covid-positive, she was overwhelmed by the love she received from friends and family, particularly those who made an effort to send her nutritious, vegetarian food so she could enjoy a homecooked meal. She has now decided to provide this dose of love to others quarantining at home.

“When I tested positive, I immediately sent my mother away to a relative’s as she has low immunity,” says Sundaresan. “The first week I was asymptomatic but later I had every symptom and was too sick to cook. Luckily, friends and relatives sent me meals all through my quarantine.”

With the second wave sweeping across the city, many Good Samaritans have taken to providing free, nutritious meals to those quarantining at home.

Abinaya Karthik, 34, who runs an industrial catering unit in Villivakkam, launched last week her initiative, ‘Mission Upkhar’, offering free food to underprivileged patients.

“There are many people out there who cannot afford to have healthy meals, so I wanted to provide them with food that will help boost their immunity,” says Abhinaya, who is now providing free food to 20 patients. “My kitchen is in Villivakkam so we can deliver food to people within a 5km radius. I am catering also to 50 other patients who want homely food and can pay for it.”

She usually provides idlis, idiyappams or millet dosa for breakfast, a south Indian thali, and a vegetable or fruit salad for lunch and chapattis or idiyappams for dinner. “We also give sachets of carrot, turmeric or ginger malt along with the food as it boost immunity,” she says.

Sundaresan plans to start the free service from April 23. “After I put up a post on social media, a few friends who are down with Covid-19 have reached out,” says Jayalakshmi, whose mother, aunts and friends will be helping her with the initiative. “People can contact me on Instagram and I will Dunzo the food to them.”

Anna Nagar resident Vimala Davuluri, who runs the restaurant Agraharam, is also offering to do the same.Alexander Athisayanathan, who provided meals for the homeless throughout the national lockdown, says he will be doing the same now and also extend it to patients who are quarantining at home.

“Last April, I distributed survival kits containing vegetable biriyani, curd rice, bisi bele bath, a water bottle, one soap, one mask, and any fruit, either two bananas or two oranges,” he says. “From this weekend, I am restarting the initiative as I have a team of volunteers. Any patient who wants a homely meal can reach out to me. And we will ensure it is delivered to them free of charge.”

Many have offered to deliver meals to Covid patients isolating at home. You can contact Jayalakshmi Sundaresan via Instagram, Alexander Athisayanathan on 9940026050/6382598558 and Mission Upkhar on 9940233323

Elderly still most vulnerable to Covid: Corpn data

‘EARLY DETECTION IS ONLY WAY OUT’

Elderly still most vulnerable to Covid: Corpn data

Komal.Gautham@timesgroup.com

Chennai:22.04.2021

Youngsters in the city seem to be showing more symptoms during the second wave of Covid-19, but Greater Chennai Corporation data shows there is still high incidence among elders who remain the most vulnerable.

In January, when cases were less than 100 per day about 80 of them were elderly followed by the 41-60 age group and the 21-40 group. On March 26, nearly 200 cases a day were of the elderly who account for more than 600 cases a day in April. “Among the others, nearly 450 are between 41 and 60 years and 350-400 are aged between 21 and 40,” said an official. Corporation commissioner G Prakash said people with symptoms such as fever, uneasiness, cough or cold should inform surveillance workers.

“Early detection is the only way out. We have opened 12 screening centres and have set up free testing centres in 30 locations. We also have 12,600 beds ready in Covid care centers,” he said after opening a 900-bed centre at Anna University.

This year, a Saveetha medical college and hospital doctor said, patients in category B (symptoms with comorbidities) and category C (requiring oxygen) were higher than those in category A (asymptomatic) and that most were in the 30-50 age group. “More youngsters are showing symptoms. Also, their recovery time is longer. So discharges are getting delayed.”

A corporation official said many young patients seemed asymptomatic, but CT scans showed mild to moderate infections. “Earlier, we didn’t do CT scans for the asymptomatic. This year, evaluation is mandatory for home isolation and we find complications in youngsters,” he said.

Corporation deputy commissioner (health) Alby John said incidence of cases and not prevalence should be considered. “Elderly are the most vulnerable and we have ensured deaths are fewer this year through enhanced surveillance and early treatment.”

An analysis of data between March 4, 2021 and April 21, 2021, showed that the share of men in the 13-60 age group of total positive cases dropped from 50% to 49% and for women from 32.8% to 32.6%. In 60-plus group, it increased from 8.6% to 8.8% in men and from 4.9% to 5.1% in women.

S Rly to operate spl trains, add extra coaches as guest workers flood stns

S Rly to operate spl trains, add extra coaches as guest workers flood stns

Shanmughasundaram.J@timesgroup.com

Chennai:22.04.2021

Nervous guest workersfromacrossTamilNaducontinuedtoarriveatChennai Central station, prompting Southern Railway to operate special trains and add additional coaches to trains to take them to their hometowns.

Railway officials said they would add 30 extra coaches to express trains bound for north and northeastern states in the next few days to ease the rush. “Augmentation of coaches on a need-basis and running special trains based on the waitlist build-up is a regular feature,” said an official and admitted that the number of guest workers arriving at the station was slowly rising.

Special trains will be operated based on demand to quell the panic among workers. Souther Railway assured them that trains would be operated from major stations in TN to their native state as a confidence-building measure. On Wednesday, guest workers rushed out of the Chennai Central-Mettupalayam Nilgiris Express to board a train to their home district. “We feel safe in our village instead of staying in a small room with six to seven others,” said Sujit Yadav, a native of UP’s Gorakhpur.

Guest workers usually return to their native states for festivals and harvest season this time of the year. The second wave and fear of another lockdown, however, were major factors triggering the reverse migration.

Covaxin shots show 78% interim efficacy, 100% in severe cases, say Bharat & ICMR

VAX SHOWS EFFICACY, CAN REDUCE INFECTION

Covaxin shots show 78% interim efficacy, 100% in severe cases, say Bharat & ICMR

Hyderabad:22.04.2021

Indigenous Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin has shown an overall interim clinical efficacy of 78% in fighting Covid-19. It has also shown 100% efficacy against severe Covid-19 disease, its developers Bharat Biotech and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said on Wednesday, reports Swati Bharadwaj.

“The second interim analysis is based on accruing more than 87 symptomatic cases of Covid-19. Due to the recent surge in cases, 127 symptomatic cases were recorded, resulting in a point estimate of vaccine efficacy of 78% against mild, moderate and severe Covid-19 disease,” they said in a joint statement. “The efficacy against severe Covid-19 disease was 100%, with an impact on reduction in hospitalisations. The efficacy against asymptomatic infection was 70%, suggesting decreased transmission in Covaxin recipients,” they added. Though the second interim analysis was planned to be conducted once 87 participants got infected, a higher number – 127 cases – was recorded among the Covaxin trial participants due to the surge in cases because of the second wave and the interim efficacy data was calculated on this basis. The final analysis of the safety and efficacy results will be available in June after which the final report will be submitted to a peer-reviewed publication, they added.

Prof Balram Bhargava, secretary of the department of health research and director general of ICMR, said the 78% efficacy in the second interim analysis as well as the findings that Covaxin works well against most variants of SARS-CoV-2 consolidates the position of the indigenous vaccine in the global vaccine landscape.

Terming Covaxin as a global innovator vaccine derived from R&D conducted in India, Bharat Biotech chairman & managing director Dr Krishna Ella said Covaxin had demonstrated an excellent safety record in human clinical trials and during emergency use.

“The efficacy data against severe Covid-19 and asymptomatic infections is highly significant as this helps reduce hospitalisation and disease transmission, respectively,” he said. The developers of the desi vaccine also said that following the achievement of the success criteria, those who received placebo shots during the trial have now become eligible to receive two doses of Covaxin.

In the first week of March, the Covaxin developers had declared an interim efficacy of nearly 81% based on the first interim analysis of Phase 3 trials data after 43 cases of Covid-19 were reported among the trial participants. Of these 43 infected volunteers, only 7 had received the two Covaxin shots while the remaining 36 had all received a placebo shot.

In the phase 3 study, 25,800 participants between the ages of 18-98 years were enrolled, including 10% participants over the age of 60.

Many turned away, centres shut, but officials say no vax shortage

Many turned away, centres shut, but officials say no vax shortage

‘Display Dose Availability On Govt Portal’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:22.04.2021 

The state on Wednesday vaccinated 55,830 people even as several vaccine centres, including ones in Chennai, turned people away citing inadequate stock. This uncertainty has led beneficiaries to ask the government to display vaccine availability on the state webpage.

After administering more than two lakh doses a day during the vaccine fest on April 15 and 16, Tamil Nadu is now recording a dip in daily vaccinations. Meanwhile, between Monday and Wednesday this week, the state has administered less than two lakh shots in total.

Some UPHCs and hospitals said they neither had Covaxin or Covishield. Many other centres did not have Covaxin. People who took the first dose more than a month ago were advised to return in a day or two. “I went for the second dose of Covaxin, but I was asked to come back tomorrow. But, they are not sure if the stock will be available even tomorrow,” said 76-year-old R Thyagarajan, who went to a PHC in Virugambakkam. “I wish we have information about where vaccines are available every day so we can go accordingly.”

Many centres in districts such as Madurai, Coimbatore and Trichy were closed on Wednesday. However, the directorate of public health said it dispatched 6 lakh doses of Covishield from the state vaccine store to all centres on Tuesday. Health minister C Vijayabaskar said there was no shortage in the state. “We have received 6 lakh doses of Covishield and have asked for another five lakh doses Covaxin, which is expected soon,” he said.

As of 8am on Wednesday, the state had 8.48 lakh doses of vaccinesAbout 7,520 doses of Covaxin and 2.29 doses of Covishield were still in transit till afternoon for most parts of the districts.

Coimbatore officials said they received 46,000 doses of Covishield vaccine, taking itsthe total stock to 67,320. On Wednesday morning, Coimbatore had nearly 21,000 doses, but hardly 3,051 people took the jab. “While there are complaints about centres being closed, many centres that are open did not see much crowd,” an official said. The number of recipients have been low since Saturday, the official added.

In the last 87 days, the state has administered 49.23 lakh doses.

ENTHUSIASM FIZZLES OUT: TN vaccinated 55k on Wednesday

Tamil Nadu polls: Strong rooms under tight vigil as counting day draws near

Tamil Nadu polls: Strong rooms under tight vigil as counting day draws near

Despite Sunday being a holiday, ACs, computers and servers in the centres were functioning, raising suspicion.

Published: 20th April 2021 04:51 AM 

By Express News Service

KARUR/THANJAVUR: “The Election Commission must ensure that no electronic equipment is brought to the counting centre,” DMK’s Karur district in-charge, Senthil Balaji, said on Monday.Addressing reporters at M Kumaraswamy Engineering College in Karur, he said, “After the election on April 6, all EVMs, VVPATs and control units were shifted to the counting centre and stored in the college.

Despite Sunday being a holiday, ACs, computers and servers in the centres were functioning, raising suspicion. On receiving information from monitoring party representatives, we (Senthil Balaji, Aravakurichi candidate Monjanur Ilango and party cadre) arrived at the counting centre and inspected the security arrangements.

Earlier, a CCTV camera at the backside of the centre was installed only after we informed authorities about it. Our party representatives complained about the functioning of the computer lab on Saturday and Sunday. No one should bring any electronic gadget or equipment to the counting centre. Even if it is the college management, electronic devices must be strictly prohibited till counting ends. The ECI must restrict district administration from operating the college WiFi and servers till counting ends,” he said.

Meanwhile, DMK candidates of Thanjavur, Tiruvaiyaru and Orathanadu visited the counting centre set up at Kunthavai Naacchiaar Government Arts College for Women on Monday and inspected the working of CCTV cameras from the room allocated for representatives of political parties. EVMs used in three constituencies are kept at separate strong rooms in the centre with a three-tier security.

Later D Chandrasekaran, Tiruvaiyaru candidate and party’s district secretary, said the camera at the entrance of the college was not functioning properly. He also demanded that there should be a revolving camera at the spot.Meanwhile, the district administration said antennas were removed and the camera in the entrance was working but the direction had been altered to cover the entire entrance following complaint from candidates.

What privacy? To save money, TNSTC uses papers with Aadhaar details to respond to RTI queries

What privacy? To save money, TNSTC uses papers with Aadhaar details to respond to RTI queries

Sakthivel is not the only person to have received replies to RTI queries on such sheets. RTI activist Daniel Jesudass said he too received replies from TNSTC and even the Health department on such she

Published: 20th April 2021 11:12 AM 

By S Senthil Kumar

Express News Service

COIMBATORE: Little would have TNSTC driver KP Sakthivel expected that his innocuous query would expose the callousness of the corporation in handling sensitive information of its employees and members of the public.

Sakthivel, deputy general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Transport Uniformed Employees Union, said he had filed a query under RTI Act seeking details of his service record. To his shock he received a reply from the Assistant Manager of Employees and Salary Section on a one-side paper, the reverse of which had Aadhaar details. "The TNSTC is operating under loss and is trying to minimise expenses. But this is not the way to do it. Using photocopy sheets of important documents like Aadhaar in this manner is unacceptable," Sakthivel told The New Indian Express on Monday.

According to sources,  staff of TNSTC are given the privilege of availing free travel for their families up to a prescribed kilometer limit once in a year. For this, they must produce Aadhaar details of family members. Besides, kin of employees seeking employment on compassionate grounds, employees filing IT returns, and members of the public, especially Persons With Disabilities, are required to produce Aadhaar details.

The TNSTC administration, it appears, has been using photocopies of Aadhaar as stationery. "This shows the callous attitude of TNSTC officials since there is a high chance that the Aadhaar information could be misused by anti-social elements. Last year, the State Information Commissioner Tamil Kumar warned TNSTC not to use photocopy sheets of Aadhaar as stationery, but the corporation is continuing the practice," Sakthivel said, adding, "The public information officer (PIO) of TNSTC should take responsibility for the gaffe and instruct officers working under him not to repeat it,"

Sakthivel is not the only person to have received replies to RTI queries on such sheets. RTI activist Daniel Jesudass said he too received replies from TNSTC and even the Health department on such sheets.

"TNSTC officials recently replied to my RTI query. It was on the reverse of letters sent by passengers and employees pointing out some issues. The TNSTC is procuring pen and paper for lakhs of rupees every month. Instead of using that they resort to such cheap practices. I suspect they are fudging the stationery purchase accounts," Jesudass said.

When contacted, Anbu Abraham Managing Director of TNSTC Coimbatore division, said that he will look into the issue and take steps to avoid such incidents from recurring in future.

Scam detected as dead man ‘tests negative’

Scam detected as dead man ‘tests negative’

He was startled because his wife and father weren’t tested; and his father died on September 22 last year, and his wife wasn’t in Tenkasi.

Published: 21st April 2021 04:59 AM | Last Updated: 21st April 2021 04:59 AM

By Sreemathi M

Express News Service

TENKASI: Vinoth Victor Antony, a native of Surandai in Tenkasi district and a resident of Madampakkam in Chennai, was shocked when he got a message from Tenkasi Government Headquarters Hospital on Sunday, saying his wife tested positive for coronavirus and his father negative.

He was startled because his wife and father weren’t tested; and his father died on September 22 last year, and his wife wasn’t in Tenkasi. Vinoth (30), a businessman, told TNIE he submitted a petition to the Directorate of Public Health and Tenkasi Collector GS Sameeran regarding the test results and seeking action against those who impersonated his wife and father.

In an audio clip that has gone viral, officials at the Tenkasi control room are heard verifying the names of his father, Anthonyraj, and wife, Jensi (28). Vinoth claimed there is no way they gave swab samples in Tenkasi as the last time he visited Surandai was to vote, and his wife last visited about six months ago. Sameeran said legal action would be taken against the impersonators.

“All samples taken during the past week have been collected and are now being verified with people in the region,” he said. Tenkasi Government Headquarters Hospital superintendent Dr R Jesline said giving such false information is a criminal offence.

Youngsters now at greater risk?

Unlike last year, many youngsters now have severe Covid symptoms, and this wave has so far killed about 10 young people in TN who had no comorbidities. “Many youngsters are presenting respiratory symptoms and pneumonia. Early admission may save their lives,” said RGGGH dean Dr E Theranirajan

Kovai kids falling ill

This year alone, 2,775 children in Coimbatore under the age of 14 got Covid-19, compared to 2,318 between March and December 2020

TN tracker 79,804

Active cases

99,246 more people tested

10,13,378 tally

13,205 toll

3,711 new cases, 17 deaths in Chennai

Facebook now lets users transfer their media, posts and notes to other platforms

Facebook now lets users transfer their media, posts and notes to other platforms

Check out how you can export your Facebook photos, videos, posts and notes to other services in a few easy steps.

By: Tech Desk | Mumbai

April 20, 2021 4:14:14 pm

Facebook will soon be adding transfer support for more data types. 

Tech giant Facebook has just launched a new trick that lets its users transfer their Facebook data to other sites. The service allows users to transfer data and media including all your photos, videos, posts, notes and even ad-related information from the platform to other relevant services. The feature will come in handy for people looking to quit off the platform.

The service was already available for most of users’ Facebook data. However while the earlier implementation included photos and videos, users still could not download their text posts and notes. Starting Monday, backing up these elements will also be possible.

“We designed this tool with privacy, security and utility in mind. We’ll ask you to re-enter your password before the transfer starts and encrypt your data as it moves between services, so you can be confident it will be transferred securely,” Facebook said

While media like photos and videos can be then uploaded to other services like Google Photos, Dropbox and others, the posts and notes will now be able to be backed up to sites like Google Docs, Blogger and WordPress. Facebook also mentioned that it will soon let users export more data types in the future.

How to download your Facebook data?

Users can download and transfer their Facebook data in a few easy steps using a desktop browser.

Step 1: On the Facebook home page, look for the drop dropdown arrow on the top-right portion of the screen. Clicking on this will open up more options. Choose Settings and Privacy/ Settings/ Your Facebook Information.

Step 2: Choose the ‘Transfer a Copy of Your Information’ option and re-enter your Facebook password to confirm your identity.

Step 3: A subsequent screen will ask users to choose what they’d like to transfer. Users can choose between photos, videos, posts and/or notes. While photos and videos offer more control on how much you want to download, users choosing posts and notes will have to transfer all of them.

Step 4: Choose the platform that you will be transferring your data in the dropdown. Once you select a new service, you will be asked to sign in to that service. Once this is done, click the ‘Confirm Transfer ‘ button.

Cremations at night to tackle record death surge

Cremations at night to tackle record death surge

Paras.Singh@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:21.04.2021

With an unprecedented surge in Covid-related deaths in Delhi, the city’s main cremation ground at Nigambodh Ghat received 192 bodies on Monday. North Delhi Municipal Corporation has now issued orders to keep all the six CNG furnaces in the crematorium operational 24x7 till the present situation continues.

“Considering the emergency situation due to increase in Covid-19 deaths, the cremation capacity has been enhanced. All six CNG furnaces at Nigambodh Ghat will be functional for 24 hours on all days of the week till further orders,” an order issued by the public health department on Monday stated.

Data available shows that out of the 192 bodies that were cremated at Nigambodh on Monday, 100 bodies were of Covid victims. As many as 160 cremations were held on Sunday, 126 on Saturday and124 on Friday. In comparison, just 30 to 40 cremations were being held between April 1 and 4.

North corporation mayor Jai Prakash said to reduce the load on the biggest cremation ground of the city, the Inderpuri facility would now also cater to Covid patients’ bodies coming from Lok Nayak Hospital. “While Hindu rituals do not allow night cremations, but these are unprecedented times of a calamity and we have to accommodate these changes. If a family comes late around 8-9pm, we should not be returning them. All CNG furnaces will be available 24 hours a day,” he added.

Officials from the public health department estimate that under normal conditions, Nigambodh Ghat can process 174 bodies a day — 120 wood-based traditional funerals and 54 CNG furnace-based cremations.

East Delhi Municipal Corporation has also decided to keep its Karkardooma and Ghazipur facilities operational 24x7.

HC: Can We Ask Patients Needing Oxygen To Hold On Till April 22?

HC: Can We Ask Patients Needing Oxygen To Hold On Till April 22?

Says Industries Can Wait, Directs Centre To Divert Oxygen For Covid Relief

Abhinav.Garg@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:21.04.2021

With several major Delhi hospitals just hours from exhausting their oxygen supplies, Delhi High Court ordered the central government on Tuesday to immediately stop industries from using oxygen and divert the gas to Covid-19 patients.

“Industries can wait, need for oxygen in hospitals is now and any delay will lead to loss of precious lives. We, therefore, direct the central government to implement decisions to bar industries from using oxygen forthwith. We see no justification for implementing the order from 22nd of April,” a bench of justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli noted in an order passed after a marathon hearing of over three hours.

The court underlined that economic interests could not override human lives and advised the government to consider reducing production in steel and petroleum production to divert oxygen to hospitals. “Shortage is now. You have to ban now. Look into taking some oxygen from steel and petroleum industries. They have big pockets and big lobbies, but tell them if they have to cut production, then they can cut production. Lives have to be saved,” the bench said wondering why the Centre is waiting till April 22 to ban industrial use of oxygen.

“Can we ask patients needing oxygen to hold on till April 22?” the high court remarked, adding that if nothing was done, then “we are heading for a bigger disaster as we might end up losing nearly a crore of people. Are we willing to accept that?”

During the hearing, the court also asked the Centre to ensure allocation or diversion of resources and medicines, such as Remdesivir, is based on the needs and situation of each state, cautioning that otherwise “people will have blood on their hands”.

The bench was unhappy with the non-application of mind in allocation and diversion of resources and medicines, after examining the government’s affidavit. “We will be doomed,” it told additional solicitor general Chetan Sharma. “The long and short of it is that Remdesivir is in short supply,” the bench said, while hearing a plea by advocate Rakesh Malhotra seeking to revive court monitoring of the issue.

The observations by the bench came after perusing the Centre's affidavit which said there was presently no gap in oxygen supply to Delhi and that industrial use of oxygen was banned with effect from April 22. The health ministry submitted that there had been an inordinate increase of 133% in the projected medical oxygen required as on April 20, between the initial estimate of 300 metric tonnes and revised estimate of 700 metric tonnes submitted by Delhi.

The court also grilled the Centre on allowing wastage of vaccines. “Wastage of vaccines, which is life-saving, is a criminal waste. We direct the government to look into the situation to permit full utilisation of vaccines,” the justices said, citing news reports that 44 lakh of 10 crore vaccines were wasted. “We are now losing young people. Why can’t the vaccine not be given to those below 45 in these 10 days till May 1? If vials are opened and those registered don’t turn up, let others take it, why is there wastage of even one dosage?”

It asked the Centre to consider updating its vaccine registration app to accommodate those in the 18-45 years category. “This update will ensure that all doses are fully utilised. Such flexibility is available in other countries such as the United States of America,” the high court noted.

Referring to shortage of important drugs, the court said the Centre or the drug controller should not hesitate to invoke their power under the Patent Act to go for generic medicines since the lives of the people are being lost at a very fast pace and the lives of people should be taken on 'priority' over everything else.

SC stays Allahabad HC order locking down 5 cities in UP

SC stays Allahabad HC order locking down 5 cities in UP

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:21.04.2021

The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed operation of Allahabad high court's Monday order directing the state to enforce week-long complete lockdown in five major cities — Prayagraj, Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi and Gorakhpur — to control spiralling Covid-19 cases during the second surge of the pandemic.

The UP government, which had announced its decision not to comply with the order, got an appeal prepared overnight and through solicitor general Tushar Mehta requested and got an urgent hearing before a bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian. Mehta said the government respected the intent behind the HC's order, but maintained it was a clear encroachment into the executive's domain. He said the order, despite its best intent, could cause confusion, panic and massive disruption of supplies to other parts of the state during these difficult times.

The SG said the UP government had issued several directions to contain the spread of Covid-19 and was taking adequate precautions on its own. He said though the HC maintained that its directions "are nowhere close to a complete lockdown", they were as rigorous as a complete lockdown.

Accusing the HC of encroaching into the executive’s domain by passing lockdown order for five cities, the UP government said, "There was no empirical data before the HC to compel it to arrive at a conclusion that lockdown/total curfew for a week was the only way to break the chain of Covid infection."

The SC bench said, "Until further orders, there shall be an interim stay of the impugned order passed by the HC.” However, it asked the state government to immediately report to the HC about the steps it has taken and proposes to take in the immediate future within a period of one week in view of the current pandemic. The bench also appointed senior advocate P S Narasimha as amicus curiae to assist the court as the HC had passed the order in a matter initiated suo motu.

UP govt: HC encroached upon executive domain

The Uttar Pradesh government has welcomed the SC’s decision to stay Allahabad HC’s directive to impose lockdown in five districts of the state. In its special leave petition (SLP) in SC on Tuesday, the government stated it had already imposed several curbs, but apart from saving lives it also had to think of saving livelihoods. The SLP said the high court order had ventured into governance by “breaching the statutory principles of separation of powers between judiciary and executive”. TNN

புதுடில்லி:கொரோனா தடுப்பூசி மருந்தை வீணடித்ததில், நாட்டிலேயே தமிழகம் முதலிடத்தில் உள்ளது.

DINAMALAR

21.04.2021 

புதுடில்லி:கொரோனா தடுப்பூசி மருந்தை வீணடித்ததில், நாட்டிலேயே தமிழகம் முதலிடத்தில் உள்ளது.

கொரோனாவை கட்டுப்படுத்த, தற்போது, 45 வயதுக்கு மேற்பட்டோருக்கு, தடுப்பூசி போடப் பட்டு வருகிறது. வரும், 1ம் தேதி முதல், 18 வயதுக்கு மேற்பட்ட அனைவருக்கும் தடுப்பூசி போட, மத்திய அரசு அனுமதி வழங்கியுள்ளது. இந்நிலையில், வீணடிக்கப்பட்ட தடுப்பூசி விபரங்களை கேட்டு, மத்திய சுகாதாரத்துறை அமைச்சகத்துக்கு, தகவல் அறியும் உரிமை சட்டத்தின் கீழ், விவேக் பாண்டே என்பவர் மனு கொடுத்திருந்தார்.

இதற்கு, மத்திய சுகாதாரத்துறை அமைச்சகம் அனுப்பியுள்ள பதிலில் கூறியிருப்பதாவது:நாடு முழுதும், 11ம் தேதி வரை, 10 கோடியே, 34 லட்சம் தடுப்பூசி டோஸ்கள் பயன்படுத்தப்பட்டு உள்ளன. இதில், 44 லட்சத்து, 78 ஆயிரம் டோஸ்கள் வீணாகியுள்ளன.தமிழகத்தில் தான் அதிக பட்சமாக, 12.10 சதவீத டோஸ்கள் வீணடிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன. ஹரியானாவில், 9.74 சதவீதமும்; பஞ்சாபில், 8.12 சதவீதமும்; மணிப்பூரில், 7.8 சதவீதமும்; தெலுங்கானாவில், 7.55 சதவீதமும் வீணாகியுள்ளன.

கேரளா, மேற்கு வங்கம், ஹிமாச்சல பிரதேசம், மிசோரம், கோவா ஆகிய மாநிலங்களிலும்; டாமன் - டையு, அந்தமான் மற்றும் நிக்கோபார், லட்சத்தீவு ஆகிய யூனியன் பிரதேசங்களிலும், ஒரு டோஸ் கூட வீணடிக்கப்படவில்லை. இவ்வாறு அதில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

Save country from lockdown, use as last resort: PM to states

Save country from lockdown, use as last resort: PM to states

Invokes Ramzan, Ram Navami To Counsel Restraint

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:21.04.2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said current strategies to contain the rapid resurgence in Covid-19 infections were aimed at ensuring least loss of lives and livelihoods and appealed to states to impose lockdowns only as the very last resort.

Addressing the nation, the PM said he would appeal to states to consider micro-containment zones rather than lockdowns. “In today’s situation, we have to save the country from lockdowns,” he said. The comments assume significance in the wake of Delhi being placed under lockdown for a week and reports that Maharashtra was considering similar measures.

The possibility of a lockdown imperilling a nascent economic recovery seemed to weigh heavy on the PM who said state governments should work to assure migrant workers that there was no need to leave for their homes. “They should be asked to stay where they are and assured that they will be vaccinated and also continue to be employed,” he said. The PM laid emphasis on efforts to improve the supply of oxygen at several levels with the measures, including setting up new plants and making sure industrial-use oxygen was utilised for medical purposes. “This time, the corona crisis has meant that the demand for oxygen has risen in many parts of the country. The Centre, states and private sector are all working to ensure that everyone who needs oxygen gets it,” he said.

The PM referred to Navratri and Ramzan, and said Ram Navami, which is on Wednesday, reminds us of the need to remember our limits (maryada) and Ramzan is about selfdiscipline and restraint. “Covid discipline should be followed completely,” he said.

Vaccinating 18+ will lead to secure workplaces: Modi

Modi expressed condolences and sympathy for those who had lost loved ones to the fresh Covid surge, saying the country should not lose courage and hope in facing the challenge that only a few weeks ago seemed to be manageable. “We will take the steps that we need to take without losing courage. That is how we will win,” he added.

Referring to the decision to permit all above 18 to be vaccinated, Modi said this would help secure the workforce and lead to faster vaccinations. Referring to the decision and other measures such as states and hospitals being allowed to procure vaccines, he said the decisions would soon bring down the rising curve of infections.

Urging people to follow Covid protocols carefully, the PM appealed to the younger population not to venture outdoors unless absolutely needed. “In your mohallas and apartments, please form small committees and help maintain discipline,” he said.

“The decision to make vaccination available to those above 18 is intended to ensure that the workforce in cities is able to access vaccines rapidly,” he said, adding that the ongoing programme of vaccinating vulnerable groups would continue in government hospitals.

The PM said leading figures in the pharma industry had stepped forward to increase production of medicines. “Beds are being increased and special and big Covid hospitals are being set up. We started work on vaccines early and scientists have developed the cheapest vaccines. The private sector has shown innovation and enterprise and we have speeded up approvals,” he added.

› Divert oxygen to hosps now, HC tells Centre, P 6 › SC stays HC order to lock down 5 UP cities, P 7 › Centre steps in as states hold up oxy supplies, P 10

How To Insulate Yourself From Negative Forces

THE SPEAKING TREE #AShotOfHope

How To Insulate Yourself From Negative Forces

Swami Sukhabodhananda

21.04.2021

A Zen student asked his Master, “Why does a fish in an ocean try to jump out?”

“The fish is trying to explore a world beyond the ocean,” answered the Master.

The consciousness that is present in each one of us is like the fish that wants to break out of the bounds of the familiar and explore the unknown. It compels us from within to evolve and grow.

In order to achieve this, we have to insulate ourselves from negative forces that inhibit our exploratory zeal.

Negative forces neutralise the creative energies that foster growth. So, it is necessary not to struggle in life and not allow influences to control your life negatively. One has to learn to float in life, to let go, let in the essentials and negate unessential feelings.

How do we insulate ourselves from negative influences?

Fear is a negative force. Whenever fear is present, the level of pro-life energy drops. Fear creates a hurt body and it then tries to survive leaning on philosophy and logic.

We try to offset the effects of fear by acquiring money, power, name and fame in abundant measure. These are but poor defences against fear. In spiritual terms, faith is the only effective antidote to fear.

Trust that when one door closes, another opens. This optimistic outlook takes the worry out of the sight of a closed door. In the spiritual way, one has to dis-identify with any impression of fear in the mind. This detachment or dis-identification is the insulation. In yoga it is called ‘atma smaranam’, self-remembrance. We have to remember to bring forth an impression of trust, assert our faith, and discard the spirit of distrust and fear.

Worldly forces do not affect us in our insulated state. Instead, our insulated selves rise to higher levels of energy, vibrations and understanding. The higher centres in us are constantly communicating something profound to us, but we close ourselves to them. It is like a cup turned upside down … no amount of water can fill the cup. The moment we are available for higher vibrations, we attract the noble aspects of life. Our state of being attracts situations in life. Lower states attract lower aspects of life while the higher states attract higher aspects of life. This is the law of attraction.

Devotion activates the higher centres of our being, purifies our emotions, and allows vibrations to flow into our lives. Devotion consists not in going through long sessions of prayers or tough regimens of rituals and penance, but in submitting ourselves to the will of God in love and gratitude.

With pure devotion, our third eye or our faculty of intuition opens, enabling us to see the grand patterns and structures connecting together what we had always taken to be isolated things and events. We feel the invisible hand of God stretched over us. Devotion transforms us from physical beings to spiritual entities. It liberates us from the confines of sensory perception and leads us to the realms of intuitive understanding. In such a state, many meaningful coincidences occur in one’s life. One is able to see the mysterious hand of God’s blessing.

For ongoing online workshops by Swamiji, contact: 63666 01235/ 63666 01236/ 990177 7003

Wedding shops sell cremation items now

Wedding shops sell cremation items now

Rajeev.Mani@timesgroup.com

Prayagraj:  21.04.2021 

Ankit Agarwal has been the go-to person for several generations during every wedding season as his shop in Chowk area of Prayagraj in UP had all paraphernalia needed for marriage ceremony. With Covid-19 second wave continuing its lethal run in the city and people calling off wedding plans till the pandemic subsides, the same shop is now forced to sell items used in last rites. Another nearby shop too has started selling items needed for cremation.

“Although my family is in the business of wedding items, we are now selling things needed for last rites,” said Ankit. This is also to help people as there was no such shop in the area and customers had to go to different markets, he added.

Besides these two shops of the Chowk area, outlets selling items needed for cremation have mushroomed in several other localities.

“I am not sure if deaths are happening only because of Covid or due to other ailments also, but one thing is for sure, despite working from dawn to late night, I am unable to meet the order for ‘titti’(a stretcher made of bamboo) ,” said Nanku, a craftsman.

How big is risk of clots from Covishield?

A SHOT OF HOPE

How big is risk of clots from Covishield?

The risk is extremely low, and the link between blood clots and the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is still not 100% clear. Also, the clots can be treated if patients report them early

Abhilash.Gaur@timesgroup.com

21.04.2021

Covid patients are sharing hospital beds and in some places the dead have shared pyres. It couldn’t get worse, you think, until yet another report raises doubts about the safety of the Oxford-Astra-Zeneca vaccine.

Since February, scientists in Europe have suspected a link between the vaccine and rare but recurring cases of fatal blood clots. Some countries have stopped using the vaccine, which is called Covishield in India and Vaxzevria abroad.

The West has the luxury of choice, but for us Covishield is the mainstay of the entire vaccination drive. If you are in line for a Covid shot, should you be afraid? Should you wait for another vaccine to launch? Here are answers to some of the questions on your mind.

Why is Europe worried?

Blood clots are a common problem. You can get one by sitting too long in one place. While these ordinary clots are easy to treat, those linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine are not. In fact, they combine clotting with the risk of internal bleeding.

Scientists have named this condition “vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT).” Somehow, a tiny percentage of people who take the AstraZeneca vaccine seem to face this dual problem of clots and internal bleeding.

The clots can occur anywhere in the body, but the deadliest ones occur in the brain. They are called cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) or cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST).

Covid causes more clots

The concern about the vaccine is based on a few hundred CVT cases recorded in Europe. In the European Economic Area (EU+Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), 169 CVT cases were recorded after 34 million vaccinations. That’s roughly 5 out of every million AstraZeneca recipients.

Among 20 million AstraZeneca recipients in the UK – roughly the population of Mumbai – 19 died of VITT, the overall clotting/bleeding problem that includes CVT.

You might say, each one of those deaths is one too many. True, but consider the alternative. You avoid the vaccine and get Covid. What is the risk of death now? Besides, Covid also causes VITT and CVT, and new data shows it causes them far more often than vaccines.

On April 15, Oxford scientists published research claiming that the risk of CVT from Covid is 8 times greater than the risk from their a vaccine.

Are we sure the vaccine is the cause?

We still don’t know for sure if the AstraZeneca vaccine ‘causes’ VITT/CVT, but international agencies are leaning towards that view.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has said VITT should be listed as a “very rare side effect” of the vaccine. UK authorities say the evidence of a link is strong but “more work is still needed.” But WHO has held off so far. Based on data from 190 million AstraZeneca vaccinations, it feels a causal relationship between the vaccine and VITT is “plausible” but not “confirmed”.

What should you do?

With cases shooting up day after day, the most important thing is to get your vaccine as soon as you can. If you have already had your first shot of Covishield without serious side effects, UK authorities advise you take the second on schedule.

If at all you get VITT/CVT, the symptoms will appear 4 days to 4 weeks after your first shot. You should see a doctor “urgently”.

Are women at greater risk?

Initial reports said women who got the AstraZeneca vaccine were at greater risk of CVT, but that does not seem to be the case now.

“The differential could be explained by the higher number of young women being given the vaccine, in large part because there are more women working in health and care professions than men,” Anna Gross writes in Financial Times. In England, 7.5% more women have got their first dose. In the under-50 age group, women are 41% ahead.

Although the contraceptive pill also causes clotting – about 1 in 1,000 women a year – professor Adam Taylor from Lancaster University writes in The Conversation: “the mechanisms behind the type of clotting linked to the vaccine and that linked to the pill appear quite different.”

So, for now, theories linking the contraceptive pill, pregnancy and hormonal replacement therapy to clots occurring after vaccination

Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel (left) and president Frank-Walter Steinmeier (centre), and UK prime minister Boris Johnson have taken the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

SYMPTOMS OF CLOTTING

Severe headache not helped by usual painkillers

Headache seems worse when lying down or bending over Headache accompanied by blurred vision, nausea and vomiting, difficulty with speech, weakness, drowsiness or seizures

New, unexplained pinprick bruising or bleeding

Shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling, persistent abdominal pain

Source: Public Health England

My granny died, but hardest part was a lonely funeral

FIRST PERSON

My granny died, but hardest part was a lonely funeral

Shobita.Dhar@timesgroup.com

21.04.2021

On April 19, my maternal grandmother developed Covid-19 symptoms. She was 96, her blood oxygen level had dropped to an alarmingly low 76 and she was gasping. Fifteen minutes into the drive to the hospital, she passed away. But it was not the saddest part.

The challenges peculiar to Covid-19 became apparent the moment my parents, 69 and 67, with whom she used to live, decided to take her to the hospital on their own. They live in a third-floor apartment and the car was parked in the basement. The next-door neighbours were all down with Covid-19 and they had asked me not to come — I have a child whose health they didn’t want to risk. With help from just one person, they managed to get her in a wheelchair and then to the car.

The hospital was 23 minutes away, but she didn’t make it. Doctors told my parents to take her body to the cremation grounds right away because it could be a Covid-19 case. We couldn't know for sure because grandmother passed away before we could get her tested. My parents wanted to conduct some form of last rites before the cremation, so they took her back home but not to the apartment. They parked the car in the basement, with my granny in it, and decided to organize a small funeral right there. My father cranked up the AC of the car to keep her body protected from heat.

This is how I saw her when I got there with my husband and father-in-law. Five chairs had been placed on one side of the car. Five relatives came over after a while. Broken and grieving, nobody hugged. No priest agreed to come perform the last rites. We did that on our own. We had to give grandmother the ceremonial bath before the cremation. My mother, two of her sisters and I tied a bedsheet from the car to a pillar in the basement to create a private space for that. We did all we could to give her as dignified a farewell as possible.

We stumbled along with her body to the cremation ground, where five pyres were already burning. We picked up the wooden logs for the pyre, but as they were heavy, a stranger, who was there to cremate his own, helped us. We were overcome with gratitude. After the cremation, we left.