TN and Kerala have fought the Covid tsunami well so far

TN and Kerala have fought the Covid tsunami well so far

A Triaging System & Stocks Of O2, Meds Play The Most Crucial Roles

Rema Nagarajan & Pushpa Narayan TNN

25.04.2021

The tsunami of Covid cases has led to a collapse of the health system in state after state exposing the lack of preparedness. People are begging for help as they run from one hospital to another looking for a bed, oxygen, drugs, ambulances or even hearse vans. With helplines clogged, nodal officers unreachable and dashboards and apps without real time data, some are turning to social media Samaritans in desperation. But there are two states — Tamil Nadu and Kerala — that have not witnessed such scenes yet. Both these states seem to have learnt important lessons from the last surge and stand out for their public health approach to tackling the pandemic and preparedness in terms of putting a system in place that takes responsibility of guiding treatment once a person tests positive for Covid.

In contrast to other states, how different has been the approach in Tamil Nadu and Kerala? In Tamil Nadu, Chennai has the highest number of cases and 75% of Covid beds are occupied. But instead of frantic relatives running around, the corporation has stepped in to reassure citizens that they need not approach hospitals directly. “Whosoever has a serious condition, they will be given first preference to get quality care and immediate treatment will be started. It is common sense. Those with mild symptoms should go to the screening centre,” explained the corporation commissioner G Prakash adding such a patient management system was important to avoid what was happening in other cities where people were lying on the road waiting for treatment.

Similar arrangements have been made in every district in Tamil Nadu. The state government has also stocked oxygen and centrally procured all the drugs needed for treatment of Covid. These arrangements have ensured that people don’t throng hospitals in panic. It has also prevented patients in a desperate situation being looted in the name of providing ambulances, oxygen or medicines. Ambulance, screening centre services and RTPCR tests are free for patients.

In Kerala, also a triaging system involving the public health cadre and the different tiers of the health system has been put in place along with tele-consultation facilities for patients to consult doctors without having to travel to hospitals. Barring a small percentage of walk-in patients who choose private hospitals and opt to pay for it themselves, for most, all Covid-related services are free of cost in the public health system. “We are preparing for an even bigger patient load. But no health system can go on expanding. So we are trying hard to bring the number of cases down to take the load off the system,” said Dr Mohammed Asheel, executive director of Kerala Social Security Mission even as daily Covid cases in the state have crossed 28,000 from about 14,000 a week back. By making use of the public health cadre and the different levels of treatment centres, these states have managed to minimise the load on the health system even as they get ready to face a surge.

“If a patient reaches a hospital, it should be the responsibility of the hospital to find the nearest bed so that patients need to go to just one place. There is an urgent need for a properly run control room which will know the number of beds open for admission and where. What patients are being put through is shocking and unacceptable,” said Dr T Sundararaman, global health coordinator of Peoples Health Movement.

Kapil Chopra of Charity Beds, which has been helping people find beds in Delhi, says the number of cases has deluged the system. “The government keeps talking of beds being available. Just go to their hospital and you will see a line of ambulances outside. People are sitting in ambulances and dying in ambulances. It is too late to talk of a system,” he said.

Sexual harassment: UAS V-C’s PA, stenographer suspended

Sexual harassment: UAS V-C’s PA, stenographer suspended

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Dharwad:25.04.2021 

The University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, has suspended two of its employees on charges of alleged misconduct. The varsity administrator has issued orders suspending the vice-chancellor’s personal assistant M A Mulla and stenographer U B Mestri on Friday.

The action comes after Dharwad suburban police registered an FIR against the two officials on Thursday in connection with the death of two women in an accident. Based on the complaint filed by Pratibha Singanath, mother of Meghana Singanath, police have registered the FIR against Mulla and Mestri.

Meghana and Rekha Kokatnur, who were working at the UAS on contract, died in an accident near Mastikatta near Ankola in Uttara Kannada district on January 30 when the car in which they were travelling collided with another vehicle. The car was being driven by Mulla and Mestri was another occupant.

Pratibha in her complaint has claimed that Mulla was sexually harassing the two women and had taken them to Goa on the pretext of taking them to Bagalkot for official work. Mestri had allegedly raped the two women in Goa and had threatened them of dire consequences if they told anyone about the incident, the complaint said. The car met with the accident while returning from Goa and both the women were killed.

Covaxin priced at ₹600 for states, ₹1200 for pvt hosps

Covaxin priced at ₹600 for states, ₹1200 for pvt hosps

Swati Bharadwaj & Rupali Mukherjee TNN

Hyderabad/Mumbai: 25.04.2021 

Indigenous Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin will be priced at Rs 600 per dose for state governments and Rs 1,200 for private hospitals, its developer Bharat Biotech said on Saturday.

For private hospitals, the increase in the vaccine price will be as much as eight times the current supplies they are getting through the central government. Similarly, state governments will pay Rs 600 per shot — four times more than the price at which the Centre will get the vaccine.

At these rates, for private hospitals, Covaxin will come at twice the cost of Serum Institute of India’s Covishield, which will be sold at Rs 600.

Bharat Biotech to keep prices for Centre unchanged at ₹150

For states too there will be a difference of Rs 200 per shot. Bharat Biotech, however, intends to keep prices for the Central government unchanged at Rs 150, unlike Serum Institute, which is seeking to increase the rate for the Centre to Rs 400 a shot.

The Hyderabad-based company sought to defend its pricing plan suggesting that in the export market, the vaccine price has been pegged at $15-20 per dose (Rs 1,125-1,500). The action is set to come under the scanner, with Serum Institute already facing flak.

On Saturday, Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla had to issue a statement justifying the price increase on the grounds that it was required to make it sustainable for the company to invest in scaling up capacity. The company maintained that Covishield was the most affordable Covid-19 vaccine.

The initial supply price of Covishield for all government immunisation programmes including India’s, has been the lowest, he said. The low price was also possible as advance funding was available, the company argued. “The price of the vaccine is still lower than a lot of other medical treatment and essentials required to treat Covid-19 and other life-threatening diseases,” Poonawalla said.

Only a limited portion of Serum’s volume will be sold to private hospitals at Rs 600 per dose, he said. “Government procurement for country-wide immunisation programmes in all countries including India has been at a far lower price as the volumes are very large,” the statement added.

Justice N V Ramana sworn in as 48th Chief Justice of India

Justice N V Ramana sworn in as 48th Chief Justice of India

As SC Judge, Authored Key Verdicts; Ensured End Of Internet Ban In Kashmir

25.04.2021 

New Delhi, Apr 24 (PTI) Justice N V Ramana, the new chief justice of India, has authored path-breaking verdicts as a Supreme Court judge and one of them led to the end of internet ban in Jammu and Kashmir, and another brought the apex court under the ambit of transparency law.

Hailing from an agriculturist family of Ponnavaram village of Andhra Pradesh's Krishna district, a soft-spoken Justice Ramana, sworn in as the 48th CJI by President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday, will have a tenure of over 16 months. He will demit office on August 26 next year and have to deal with key task of ensuring smooth functioning of apex court amid resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic.

The judgement penned by Justice Ramana in the Anuradha Bhasin case related to internet ban in Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370 provisions has been hailed by many as one of the progressive verdicts.

It held that freedom of speech and conducting business on the internet are protected under the Constitution and had directed the Jammu and Kashmir administration to immediately review curb orders.

The bench had directed the authorities in the Union territory to immediately review all orders suspending internet services and said orders not in accordance with the law must be revoked.

A five-judge constitution bench headed by Justice Ramana had in March last year declined to refer to a larger sevenjudge bench a batch of pleas challenging the constitutional validity of the Centre's decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370.

He was part of a five-judge constitution bench that had held in November 2019 that the office of the CJI was a public authority under the Right to Information Act.

In the November 2019 verdict, the top court had also said "judicial independence has to be kept in mind" while disclosing information in "public interest".

He was also a part of a fivejudge constitution bench of the top court that had in a landmark verdict in 2016 ordered restoration of the Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh. The bench had said the "clock should be turned back" as it quashed all decisions of the governor that precipitated its fall in January, holding them "violative" of the Constitution.

In November 2019, a bench led by Justice Ramana had ordered floor test for then Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to prove his majority in the House, saying there was a "possibility of horse-trading" in case of delay.

Justice Ramana-led bench has also dealt with a plea that raised the issue of inordinately delay in disposal of criminal cases against former and sitting lawmakers.

Last September, the bench had said there had been "no substantial improvement" in disposal of pending criminal cases against sitting and former lawmakers, and directed the chief justices of high courts to submit an action plan for rationalisation of special courts to deal with these matters.

While acting as an executive chairperson of the National Legal Services Authority of India, he undertook various programmes to develop a strong legal aid culture in India and has been responsible for making India's legal aid programme "the largest in the world". PTI

President Ram Nath Kovind administers the oath of office to Justice N V Ramana, as the Chief Justice of India, at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday

Nurse back on duty on 2nd day after kidney surgery

Nurse back on duty on 2nd day after kidney surgery

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:25.04.2021

If one sees Rekha Brahmbhatt, the head nurse at the 1,200-bed Covid hospital on the Civil Hospital campus, one might not notice that behind the smiling face and tireless duty, she has endured excruciating kidney pain. She had also deferred her surgery. “My chronic kidney disease needed a surgery and stenting. I underwent an operation in February, but the pain was recurring,” said Brahmbhatt, a native of Gandhinagar. “I was advised to again undergo a surgery. I could not leave work, but took a day off and reported for duty on the second day.”

Working at the hospital for the past one year on Covid duty, Brahmbhatt manages ward data, nursing staff, and coordination with patients to understand their requirements. Nowadays, her primary role is to ascertain the number of beds available and conveying it to the authorities. “I may endure my pain, but we are most needed at this time when the pandemic is at its peak,” she said. “If we won’t work now, when will we?”

Wedding blocks jab for senior citizens

AMC BUNGLE

Wedding blocks jab for senior citizens

Ahmedabad: 25.04.2021 

For the many elderly who turned up at the designated vaccination centre at the AMC’s Navdeep Hall in Naranpura on Saturday, it was a shock to see a wedding ceremony under way at the location. Since morning, many elderly had come walking a few kilometres to the centre, taking a risk during the pandemic. They had carried their identity cards with them. But they were told to leave because the celebration was on at the civic community centre.

Senior municipal officials said that a family had booked the community centre almost six months ago and there was no way the ceremony could be postponed. “The estate department had failed to communicate to the health department regarding the wedding booking,” said a senior official of the West Zone. “The elderly have requested the AMC for an alternative date.” The estate department has been told to better coordinate with local health departments.

It’s not just India’s fight, the world needs to pitch in

BY INVITATION

It’s not just India’s fight, the world needs to pitch in

BHRAMAR MUKHERJEE

25.04.2021 

As life is attempting to return to normalcy in the US with 52% of the adult population receiving at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and 35% of adults fully vaccinated on April 23, on the other side of the world, the lives of my friends and family in India have been struck with a paralysing sense of fear, anxiety, trauma and pain. The second surge of SARS-CoV-2 infections has a ferocity and a velocity that has never been seen before in this pandemic. In the last one month, daily new cases have gone up by roughly 8 times (from 40,000 to 315,000) and daily deaths have gone up by roughly 10 times (from 198 to 2,100). We are staring at a startling effective reproduction number of 1.6 nationally, with seven states having a 7-day average reproduction number above 2.0.

It is an enormous tidal wave that is ravaging my country of birth and we, unfortunately, have access to only picket fences to stop it. Many of us with a hyphenated identity across two continents, people of Indian origin living away from home tremble at the very sound of the phone ringing…is it a +91 number? Are our loved ones safe? If something happens to my octogenarian parents, will I be able to go through the travel restrictions to be by their side? Even in our safe inoculated first-world bubbles, there is no escape from this global pandemic.

Going from the personal to the population health level, the humanitarian crisis in India has ripple effects far beyond its borders. What happens in India affects the whole world in a number of ways. I will just share two compelling examples. As we can already appreciate, the more the virus spreads, the more it mutates. The UK variant is in Michigan, the Indian double mutant is in the UK: no one is safe until everyone is safe. The pandemic has taught us more emphatically than ever that our health is interconnected. The second example is through more obvious supply chain connections. Since India is one of the world’s largest vaccine producers, skyrocketing domestic demands for vaccines have already started to affect the immunisation plans of other countries.

We need to solidify our alliance with international partners to get through this catastrophe. This collaboration can take place in various direct and indirect ways, starting from negotiating supply of oxygen cylinders, pulse oximeters, medications, airlifting of oxygen generation plants to address the immediate crisis or through setting up a robust and scalable infrastructure for genomic sequencing integrated with epidemiologic surveillance. Some of these efforts are already underway. Sharing sequencing and individual level clinical and vaccination data in real time with global consortiums much more extensively and nimbly will help advance our understanding of the disease and the emerging variants. Assistance can be sought to secure shipments of rapid home self-tests for Covid-19, the one manufactured by Abbott is currently available in US retail stores. These tests are affordable, accurate and fast and will help us circumvent the RT-PCR testing bottleneck. Now that EUA has been granted to internationally approved vaccines, collaboration is needed to secure as many doses as quickly as possible.

Of critical importance is to strike a deal for one-shot vaccines due to the urgency and enormity of this exploding crisis and challenges with vaccine adherence in India. Global support towards enhancing infrastructure to scale up vaccine production in India, pressing pedal to the floor, will eventually help the whole world in managing the pandemic. The entire world should equally benefit from the astonishing science, technology and knowledge generated collectively in the last one year, not just the first world. It is undeniable that Covid-19 has underscored the glaring structural health inequities that exist around the world. The distribution of loss has not been equal, from Detroit to Dharavi, it is the most vulnerable who have suffered and are suffering the most.

It is even more unfortunate to see the loss of countless lives at this specific moment, when in a few months, copious supply of vaccines may be available. India has vaccinated only 1.5% of its population fully, we have a long way to go. We cannot be fatalistic and surrender to destiny and let people die, we have to work together as a nation and as a world, as a powerful and solidified human force against this insidious virus. The fundamental principle of public health and medicine is to save human lives, regardless of skin color, cast, creed, socio-economic status, religion, political ideology or country of origin. As clichéd as it may sound, we are indeed, all in this together. Colossal mistakes have been made to get us to this precarious juncture, insular focus on self-reliance is just not enough anymore.

Mukherjee is professor and Chair of Biostatistics at the University of Michigan School of Public Health

JAB WE UNITE: Global support to scale up vaccine production in India is vital

Perform surgery or kill me, pleads prisoner

Perform surgery or kill me, pleads prisoner

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

25.04.2021

A 34-year-old remand prisoner staged a dharna in front of the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College in Salem, demanding that doctors perform a surgery to rectify his kidney-related problem immediately or subject him to mercy killing as the pain was unbearable.

According to a police source, S Ganapathy, a resident of Vellore district, was lodged in Salem Central Prison in connection with the murder of his mother-in-law in 2019.

He has been undergoing treatment at the government hospital for a kidney-related disease. While the judicial magistrate had granted him bail, none of his friends and relatives had come forward to provide surety and take him out of the prison.

Prison superintendent T Tamilselvan said, “Due to the difficulties in passing urine, Ganapathy had been using urinary catheter and undergoing treatment ever since he was lodged in the prison. About six months ago, he had refused to undergo a surgery in the government hospital to rectify his problem. He said he would undergo the surgery only in a private hospital. Now, amid the spike in Covid-19 cases, he wants to undergo the surgery.”

On Saturday morning, Ganapathy was taken to the government hospital after he complained of some irritation while urinating. Doctors, the source said, advised him to visit the hospital after a few weeks. “However, Ganapathy demanded that the doctors perform the surgery immediately. As the Covid-19 cases are increasing in the district, doctors have been performing only the surgeries that are emergency in nature. So, they refused to accept his demand.”

Suddenly, Ganapathy sat in front of the emergency ward of the hospital and refused to return to the person. He pleaded with the officials to take steps to perform the surgery immediately or kill him on compassionate grounds. However, officials pacified him and took him back to the prison.

Tamilselvan said, “Ganapathy’s health condition is good and stable.”

Meanwhile, the resident medical officer with the government hospital, Rani, refused to comment on the issue, stating medical details of a remand prison could not be shared.

FERVENT APPEAL: S Ganapathy in front of the emergency ward of Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College on Saturday

Improper Covid barricades irk Mannady locals

Improper Covid barricades irk Mannady locals

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:25.04.2021

A resident of Iyappa Chetty Street at Mannady in Royapuram zone in North Chennai has complained about Greater Chennai Corporation officials using tin sheets for quarantine purposes.

The resident, who declined to be identified, said that tin sheets have been placed perpendicularly covering part of a street.

He also claimed that vehicles like ambulances would not be able to go through. He said there were seven Covid-19 positive patients on the street. Photos show that there is enough space for vehicles to move through. The resident also said that there were no restrictions on movement of people.

However, a GCC official said that the tin sheets havenot been used to cover the entrance of any house.

“We have used it only for barricading purposes, to indicate that there have been COVID19 cases in this street,” an official said.

Last year, the Madras High Court had expressed their surprise and shock on the use of tin sheets to cover entrances of houses. The High Court had asked the civic body to explain if there was any scientific basis behind such a move.

GCC officials said that if there are less than 10 cases in any street they would only be placing barricades. Only if there are more than 10 cases on any street, would strict containment measures be followed.

“We have learnt lessons during the last year. We cannot disallow movement of people from apartments where there are no cases. Theremight be emergency travel requirements of people inside, say doctors or nurses and we can’t stop that,” an official said, explaining the containment measures that have been adopted by the Greater Chennai Corporation during the second wave.

HOLES IN THE WALL: Tin sheets installed as barricades at Iyappa Chetty Street at Mannady in Royapuram zone do not hamper the movement of people in the area, said a resident

GCC officials said that if there are less than 10 cases in any street they would only be placing barricades. Only if there are more than 10 cases on any street, would strict containment measures be followed

Ahead of Sunday’s total lockdown, Broadway, Parry’s become crowded

Ahead of Sunday’s total lockdown, Broadway, Parry’s become crowded

Civic Body’s Threat Of Hefty Fines No Deterrent

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:25.04.2021 

A day ahead of Sunday’s total lockdown, physical distancing and mask discipline were almost completely absent at Kothaval Chavadi, a busy wholesale market, as well as at Broadway and Parry’s Corner. The city corporation’s warning that hefty fines would be imposed and outlets violating rules would be shut down had little impact.

There was no pandemic protocol in sight as shoppers outnumbered police and corporation officials in places such as Audiappa Naicken Street, Anna Pillai Street, Acharappan Street, Varada Muthiyappan Street, Strotten Mudali Street, Govindappa Naicken Street and Anderson Street.

Several traders in Kothaval Chavadi said most of those on the streets were not regular shoppers but owners of retail outlets out to buy stock. “We cannot possibly turn away our customers. We try our level best to ensure physical distancing in and around our premises, but since the roads are narrow, they get crowded,” said a member of Madras Chillies Merchants Association.

Among the 80-odd market areas in the city, Kothaval Chavadi is one of the earliest and deals mainly in pulses, chillies and similar items. Huge crowds also thronged Badrian Street, Rattan Bazaar Road near George Town and NSC Bose Road, leading to heavy traffic as hawkers occupied pavements and autorickshaws lined up on one side of the road.

“We have taken stock of the issues. Apart from our teams, supervisory teams headed by tahsildars from the Chennai Collectorate will also be monitoring and reporting on violations and deficiencies. We are hoping that all norms will be streamlined in the coming days,” said a senior official with Greater Chennai Corporation.

Police and civic authorities have been conducting regular meetings with all stakeholders to ensure that traders are well prepared this time to ensure that their customers wear masks, follow physical distancing and other conditions that are part of the standard operating procedure.

The Kothaval Chavadi wholesale market falls under Royapuram zone which has 2,608 active Covid-19 cases — the fourth highest among the 15 zones in the city.

NO CARE FOR PROTOCOL: (From top left) Scenes at Badrian Street, Broadway, NSC Bose Road and Vanagaram fish market

Online regn on Co-Win a must for jabs from May 1

Online regn on Co-Win a must for jabs from May 1

New Delhi:25.04.2021 

Those in the 18-45 age group eligible for anti-Covid vaccines from May 1will need to mandatorily register online on the Co-Win platform and seek an appointment to get the shot as walk-ins will not be permissible, at least in the beginning of the new inoculation drive. Registration can be done from April 28, reports Sushmi Dey.

Walk-in facility, which got a good response in the 60-plus and 45-plus age groups, is not being provided as the government expects a big jump in the number of vaccinations in phase 3 of the drive at a time when supplies are limited, official sources said. The move is also likely to prevent crowding at vaccination centres.

“Phase 3 means a large number of people, so can’t be implemented without planning. Online registration will help vaccination centres plan sessions in advance, manage crowds as well as supply of vaccines,” a senior official told TOI.

Register additional pvt vax centres: Govt to states

While India administered more than 14 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccines till Saturday 8pm, daily vaccinations are on a decline for nearly three weeks now. On Saturday, 24.22 lakh doses were given till 8pm. Apart from fear of infection amid the current surge, vaccines supplies have been reported to be erratic.

So far, vaccination numbers were largely driven by walk-in beneficiaries. Of the total 12.21 crore registrations till Saturday, over 68% were by walk-ins and merely 11.6% were registered prior vaccination. Apart from these two categories, 2.43 crore health and frontline workers have also been registered by governments and their data pre-populated into the Co-Win system.

The Centre issued an advisory to states asking them to augment infrastructure and suggesting specific measures for the phase 3. Apart from asking states to publicise the “only online registration” for 18-45 age group, the Centre suggested that states should register additional private vaccination centres (CVCs) in mission mode by engaging private hospitals, facilities in industrial establishments and industry associations. It also asked states to monitor number of hospitals that have procured vaccines and have declared stocks and prices on Co-Win.

The Centre also advised states to prioritise decisions regarding direct procurement of vaccines by state and UT governments and coordinate with lawand-order authorities for effective crowd management at CVCs.

Deaths among Mum’s 60+ less in 2nd wave: Experts

Deaths among Mum’s 60+ less in 2nd wave: Experts

Some Say It Could Be Tied To Vaccination

Malathy.Iyer@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:25.04.2021 

In what could be the first indication of the Covid-19 vaccination drive working, some experts say deaths among the elderly have reduced in the ongoing second wave in Mumbai. London mathematician Murad Banaji has calculated that there have been 40% fewer deaths than expected among the elderly during the second wave.

On Friday, Banaji tweeted: “There isn’t much good news coming out of India. Here’s some: Mumbai’s data is showing what looks like vaccines reducing fatalities.”

Calling the effect significant, he said: “Deaths in the over-60s this week are around 40% less than expected based on trends up to late March and deaths in under-60s.”

The timing is about right as the vaccination drive for the 60-plus started on March 1 and the “first hints” of an effect were apparent by April 8, said Banaji. Healthcare professionals, among them Dr Shashank Joshi, say they are sceptical. Dr Joshi, member of the state government task force on Covid-19, said it was too early to make correlations between the vaccination drive and deaths.

At present, only 18.5 lakh of the Mumbai’s1.4 crore population has taken at least one dose of either the Covishield or the Covaxin vaccine.

Dr Gagandeep Kang from the Christian Medical College, Vellore, who has worked extensively with vaccines, said: “We will need to immunise at least 30% of people before we begin to see the effect that is driven by vaccines alone.” BMC executive health officer Dr Mangala Gomare said the public health department, too, had noted a drop in deaths among the elderly. “However, we are still working out the details,” she said.

While many doctors in Mumbai acknowledge that the Covid-19 vaccination has possibly reduced the severity of symptoms among people, the stark effect of vaccination as seen in countries such as Israel and the UK, where 60% and 50% of the population, respectively, has got at least the first shot, is missing. In India, only 8.3% of the population has been vaccinated so far.

There is evidence trickling in from other countries that vaccinations have led to fewer hospitalisations. “The latest being the UK, which has reported 70% drop in hospitalisations,” said Dr Kang. In Israel, residents of some areas are allowed to walk out without a face mask. “The vaccines we have do work,” said Dr Kang. “When the data on positive people who do not or rarely need hospitalisation is available at scale, it will tell us that the vaccines are working.”

People wait at a vaccination centre in Mumbai on Saturday

TN shuts down cinemas, malls, large retail shops from Monday

TN shuts down cinemas, malls, large retail shops from Monday

Shrines Closed; Grocery, Veggie Shops Allowed

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:25.04.2021

The state government on Saturday issued a fresh set of curbs, shutting down cinema theatres, gyms, recreation clubs, bars, auditoriums and meeting halls from 4am on April 26.

An official release said large format retail stores, shopping complexes and malls will not be permitted. Grocery, vegetable and other outlets are allowed following standard operating procedure. “Grocery and vegetable outlets in malls, however, are disallowed. Department stores are allowed without air-conditioning, but only 50% of customers should be permitted at a time,” the release said.

Beauty parlours, spas, saloons, barber shops will not allowed across all corporations and municipalities. “This is one step below total lockdown. It is absolutely necessary to curtail movement of people and transmission of disease. This pain must be endured to avoid a catastrophe. If the situation does not improve, we may have to opt for harsher measures such as lockdown,” a senior officer said. Only takeaway services would be permitted in restaurants/hotels/ mess and tea shops. Door-delivery of food in hotels and lodges would be permitted. E-commerce services shall continue within the restricted time.

“Public worship would not be allowed in religious places, while daily rituals/prayers shall go on with staff alone,” the release said. Temple events and congregations have already been prohibited from April 10. Permission was granted to allow pre-scheduled events with 50 members, but the government has now decided to allow only temple staff to hold consecration ceremonies. No new consecration ceremony/temple events would be permitted. Not more than 50 members are allowed to participate in marriage events, and 25 members for funerals. IT&ITES companies are mandated to allow 50% of employees to work from home. Sports training academies are not allowed. Except Puducherry, all those coming from states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala should register at http://eregister.tnega.org.

Standees would not be allowed in public and private buses in the state.

CORONA WHAT? Crowds thronged markets without maintaining social distance a day ahead of the lockdown in TN on Saturday

Active cases in TN cross 1L; 4,000 new cases in city

As active cases in the state crossed the one-lakh mark (1,00,668) on Saturday, Tamil Nadu government revised admission protocols to reserve hospital beds for sick patients and cancelled elective surgeries in all government hospitals. The state added 14,842 new cases and 80 deaths, pushing the case tally to 10,66,329 and death toll to 13,475. Chennai, which reported 4,086 new cases, had 31,506 active cases by the end of the day. While Chengalpet (1,163) and Coimbatore (1,004) reported a four-digit spike, 28 districts reported three-digit spurt in cases. P2

SII defends vax rate for states & private hosps

A day after strong criticism from state governments and opposition parties, the Serum Institute of India (SII), which makes the most used Covid-19 vaccine in the country, on Saturday defended pricing Covishield at 1.5 times the initial rate, saying the earlier price was based on advance funding and now it has to invest in scaling up and expanding its capacity. The firm, earlier this week, announced a price of ₹600 per dose for private hospitals and ₹400 per dose for state governments. It currently charges the Union government ₹150 per dose for the existing supplies.

FULL COVERAGE: P2

‘Bail not jail’ rule not to apply to gangsters: SC

‘Bail not jail’ rule not to apply to gangsters: SC

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:25.04.2021

The Supreme Court has advised all high courts not to mechanically apply the ‘bail not jail’ principle while giving relief to gangsters, sharpshooters and heinous offenders and must weigh the effect of bail to such offenders on the safety of witnesses and families of victims.

On the last day of his retirement, CJI S A Bobde on Friday, while heading a threejudge bench, cancelled the bail granted by Allahabad high court to Azamgarh gangster Arun Yadav, who was accused of gunning down one Rajnarain Singh. Singh’s widow Sudha Singh had challenged the bail to Yadav, who operated a crime gang and faced 15 cases of murder or attempt to murder.

In cancelling the bail granted to Yadav, the SC recalled the case relating to grant of parole to Vikas Yadav, despite he facing 64 cases of murder, attempt to murder and extortion.

“The appellant cites the example of a person who was prosecuted in connection with 64 criminal cases which included cases of murders, offences of dacoity, criminal intimidation, extortion and offences under the UP-Gangster Act, etc., but who was released on bail. Ultimately, when a police team went to apprehend him in a case, allegedly eight policemen were killed and many grievously injured,” the bench noted.

It said, “We find in this case that the HC has overlooked several aspects, such as the potential threat to witnesses, forcing the trial court to grant protection (to the victim’s family).

“It is needless to point out that in cases of this nature, it is important that courts do not enlarge an accused on bail with a blinkered vision by just taking into account only the parties before them and the incident in question,” the bench said.

In cancelling the bail granted to Arun Yadav, the SC recalled the case relating to grant of parole to Vikas Yadav, despite he facing 64 cases of murder, attempt to murder and extortion

Kuwait suspends all commercial flights from India due to Covid-19

Kuwait suspends all commercial flights from India due to Covid-19

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:25.04.2021 

In view of surging Covid-19 cases in India, Kuwait has indefinitely suspended all commercial flights from the country with immediate effect. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of Kuwait has issued a circular, which says Indians can arrive there from some other country only if they have last spent 14 days outside India.

“Kuwaiti citizens, their first-degree relatives — spouse and children — and their domestic workers are exempt (from this restriction). Operation of air freight flights will continue from India. This circular will be effective from 12.01am (local Kuwait time) on Saturday (April  24) until further notice,” the circular says.

Meanwhile, the Indian embassy in Bahrain tweeted: “Bahrain has announced revised International arrival procedures w.e.f. 27 April 2021. All passengers arriving from India must carry negative PCR test report with a QR code conducted within 48 hours before departure. All other existing travel-related procedures remain unchanged.”

This requirement is for all passengers above the age of six going to Bahrain from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Several countries like the UK, Canada and the UAE have barred entry of travellers from India due to the massive surge in Covid cases in the country.

Several countries like the UK, Canada and the UAE have barred entry of travellers from India due to the massive surge in Covid cases in the country

Airfares for destinations in US from Chennai soar

Airfares for destinations in US from Chennai soar

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:25.04.2021 

Airfares for trips from Chennai to destinations in the US have shot up to more than ₹2lakh to ₹3lakh for travel next month as there is a rush among people to travel fearing a complete suspension of flights.

Absence of direct flights from Chennai and a temporary ban on Indian travellers by major transit hubs like the United Kingdom, Canada, United Arab Emirates and other countries in the Middle East are the reason for scramble for tickets and the consequent increase in fare. Return airfare is in the range of ₹2.60lakh to ₹3.35lakh from Chennai via the Middle East to the US for travel in the first week of May.

People who have to return to work, relatives and students are the category of people who are travelling to the US.

Rangarajan L N, who was scheduled to travel to San Francisco via Dubai on Sunday said " I was supposed to travel yesterday. But had to reschedule and book from Delhi. The air fare via Dubai was ₹80,000 but now I am paying ₹1.10lakh. I do not want to wait and travel next month because the countries in the Middle East may extend the temporary ban for Indians to travel." He is worried to travel via Delhi where cases are increasing.

A majority of the passengers, especially relatives of those in the US, prefer to fly via the Middle East because it's hassle-free than flying domestic to Delhi or Mumbai and then switching to the international flight.

Basheer Ahmed of Metro Travels said : "The fare is high because people want to travel before all airlines stop flights. Many people who were trying to fly via Dubai are affected because of the temporary suspension of allowing Indian passengers to the UAE. Other Gulf countries like Kuwait and Oman too have stopped the arrival of Indian nationals. There is a worry that this may be extended because cases are increasing here. Air India is the only option from Delhi as United Airlines too have suspended carrying passengers from Delhi.`` In the absence of flights, passengers are also looking at different options to fly.

Arul Lazaran of United Travels said that "People who need to travel are willing to spend and also find ways to reach the US. A few are flying via Nepal. They spend time there in quarantine and then fly to Dubai and then further to the US."

Set out early for a hassle-free Covid-19 vaccine

Siddharth.Prabhakar@timesgroup.com

Chennai:  25.04.2021

People going out for their a jab of Covid-19 vaccine at their nearest health centre or hospital in Chennai may have to return home without one. Alternatively, they might have to visit at least a couple of centres.

This is because many Primary Health Centres (PHCs) are unable to cater to the growing demand for vaccines in the city. This is even more so for Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, which, according to senior Greater Chennai Corporation officials, was in shortage.

“Currently, we are prioritising Covaxin for those who come in to get their second shots. Covishield (Oxford-Astrazeneca) is available,” an official said.

This comes at a time when the demand for Covaxin has increased, the official said, after media reports on its efficacy against the mutated strain of the virus as well.

Mathew Thomas, a resident of Injambakkam who visited the PHC in his area on April 22, was told that Covaxin was out of stock. Staff took his contact number and said they would inform him when stocks were refilled.

“We are upset. We sincerely went to take the vaccine and were sent back. This shows a lack of planning,” he said. His parents Thomas Mathew and Sarasu Thomas could not get their dose at a private centre in Villivakkam and ended up taking it in a the PHC at Purasaiwalkam after running around.

Faced with many similar experiences, citizens like Narayanan Hariharan, 36, have started sourcing information to put out tweets on availability of vaccines at different health centres to help people. “Vaccines are available in certain places like PHCs and private hospitals, but they are sent back by staff who ask them to take the second shot at the place where they got their first,” he said.

Some people also said that it depends on the time of the day you visit the centres; in many centres the vaccines are exhausted by12pm.

G Satish, a resident of Shollinganallur, said the shortage in corporation centres was due to non-availability in private institutions. “People are panicking as the cases have increased rapidly. The people who took their1st dose at private hospital had taken the 2nd dose in corporation centres as private hospitals didn’t have stocks,” he said.

Rama Rao, a resident of Chromepet, said private labs did not have supply of Covaxin for 4 days and from Monday, they wouldadminister the fresh stock only for those who have already taken one jab. “But for Covishield, 50 tokens are issued everyday,” he said. Local PHCs don’t have stock of Covaxin.

Another senior corporation official said vaccine doses would be replenished regularly and people could return to the centre a couple of days later to get their shots.

The prevailing situation is because many Primary Health Centres (PHCs) are unable to cater to the growing demand for vaccines in the city

Flights cancelled due to travel ban

Flights cancelled due to travel ban

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

25.04.2021 

Surge in Covid-19 cases and several countries banning flights from India has affected flight services, forcing airlines to cancel trips due to poor patronage.

BSG Mustafa of Meraj Travels said many do not want to travel as each state has several restrictions that change from time to time. “There is also an anticipation of total lockdown being imposed. Various countries including Dubai, Canada, Japan, United Kingdom and Singapore have banned entry of Indian passengers. It also has its impact on domestic flight operations,” he said.

Air Arabia has cancelled Coimbatore to Sharjah flights for the next 10 days. While flights from Sharjah to Coimbatore will be operated as usual, the airline will not carry passengers from Coimbatore due to the increasing Covid-19 cases here, sources said. This comes after the UAE banned flights from India on Saturday, but allowed Indians residing in the UAE, to fly back to their hometowns.

IndiGo has suspended Madurai-Hyderabad services from April 22 to 30. A Madurai-Chennai morning flight operated by SpiceJet was also cancelled on April 22. With fewer passengers due to restrictions, many other flights could be cancelled in the days to come, said sources in the Madurai airport.

Satheesh Kumar, president of Forum of Tour Organisers, said there was huge demand for the Dubai flight on Friday as the country has banned flights from India from Saturday midnight. A ticket, which would normally cost ₹15,000, was sold at ₹90,000 at the last minute.

Rush in vax centres as people rush to get jab before May 1

Rush in vax centres as people rush to get jab before May 1

Padmini.Sivarajah@timesgroup.com

Madurai:25.04.2021 

As many as 52.51lakh people have been vaccinated in the state till date. Though the state is receiving fresh supplies of vaccines, a supply-demand gap was reported at many places.

As per the data released on Saturday, as many as 45,09,694 people have been administered Covishield and 7,42,126 people Covaxin, through the government centres, camps and private clinics.

In Madurai, long queues of people waiting for vaccine were witnessed at many urban public health centres. K Sundaram, who came to a centre with his wife, said they were waiting for their first dose. “I did not want to wait longer, in case a total lockdown was announced,” he said.

A staff of the Government Rajaji Hospital vaccination centre at the Elango Corporation School said the crowds have become uncontrollable for the past few days, after the news that vaccines would be available for ₹600 per dose from May 1 at the private hospitals.

“None in our family have taken the vaccine. My three children are above 18 years of age, and then there is my wife, mother and sister. Paying for the vaccine doses would be a huge amount for me and I cannot afford it,” said K Pandi of Sellur, who said he was going to the UPHC on Saturday.

As many as 2,01,946 people have been vaccinated in Madurai district till date, including 5,867 on Saturday. Vaccine availability in the district as on date was 6,830. Just more than 33,000 people received their second dose of vaccination in the district as on Friday. Maditssia, the association for SME industries, conducted a special camp in association with the Madurai Corporation on Saturday. People, who had come for their second dose after completing one month since the first dose were asked to come after 42 days, said former president of the association, V S Manimaran. Those who had completed 40 days since the first dose were given preference over first doses.

In Coimbatore, as many as 3,42,247 have been vaccinated till date, while in Trichy the number is 1,89,586. As many as 3,082 people were vaccinated on Saturday.

(With inputs from Gokul Rajendran & Pratiksha Ramkumar)

My three children are above 18 years of age, and then there is my wife, mother and sister. Paying for the vaccine doses would be a huge amount for me

K PANDI Sellur

If you have mild Covid, here’s how you can recover at home

TOI COVID GUIDE

If you have mild Covid, here’s how you can recover at home

4 Out Of Every 5 Covid Patients Don’t Need Hospitalisation, But Preparing In Advance Can Make Recovery Less Stressful

With India recording more than 3 lakh new Covid cases daily, hospital beds and oxygen cylinders are scarce. The only good news is that 81% of Covid patients have mild or no symptoms, and can recover at home. Here’s a ready reckoner for Covid care at home.

First signs of disease

A dry cough, sore throat, fever and runny nose are common early symptoms of Covid-19. Many patients also report loss of smell and taste, headaches, fatigue and body aches. There are some other red flags also, such as breathlessness, falling oxygen saturation, persistent pain or pressure in chest, poor appetite, loose motions, fatigue, weakness or numbness in any limb or face, etc.

In severe cases, Covid progresses from the first symptoms to pneumonia in about five days, and to severe hypoxemia and ICU admission in 7-12 days. Therefore, careful health monitoring is important.

When symptoms arise

If you experience Covid symptoms, immediately isolate in a well-ventilated room with an attached bathroom, without waiting to get tested. The longer you take to self-isolate, the higher the risk of infecting others.

If you test positive and are advised home isolation, you will need to monitor your temperature and oxygen level, and keep the district surveillance officer (DSO) informed. The DSO will arrange a follow-up by a surveillance team. You will also need the Aarogya Setu app on your mobile phone. Try to keep at least six feet apart from other housemates. Do not share glasses, towels and mobile phones. If you need to share space, ensure that the room has good airflow.

Checking oxygen level

A pulse oximeter checks the oxygen level in blood. If you use it in bed or while resting, it won’t detect ‘silent’ or latent hypoxia (low oxygen). Doctors recommend the ‘six-minute walk test’: note down your oxygen level, walk for six minutes and check again. If the level drops by six points or more, seek medical help. You should check temperature and oxygen saturation every four hours.

Ending home quarantine

The health ministry says you will be alright 10 days after the onset of symptoms if you have not had fever for the last three days. Even after that, you will be advised to isolate at home and self-monitor for seven more days. If you are asymptomatic, you can be with others 10 days after testing positive.

Recovering after Covid

Once you are free to step out, exercise regularly to improve breathing and build strength. Adequate rest and nutritious meals will also speed up recovery. But watch out for signs of ‘long Covid’, such as a cough that lasts months, hoarse voice, headache, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, and shortness of breath.

Text: Sushmita Choudhury

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Rajasthan family flies home first girl born in 35 years

Rajasthan family flies home first girl born in 35 years

Nagaur:24.04.2021 

A family in a village in Nagaur district went all out to welcome the first girl child born in their house in 35 years and hired a helicopter to bring the newborn home.

Hanuman Prajapat’s wife Chuki Devi gave birth to Riya on March 3 and had gone to her parent’s house in Harsolav village with the baby. On Wednesday, Hanuman decided to fly his daughter home. The family spent around Rs 5 lakh for the helicopter ride, which they managed to arrange by selling their crops. TNN

Bihar health dept secy among 54 dead, Covid cases hit another peak

Bihar health dept secy among 54 dead, Covid cases hit another peak

Sheezan.Nezami@timesgroup.com

Patna:24.04.2021

The state health department additional secretary, Ravi Shankar Choudhary, died of Covid-19 complications on Friday. He was among the 54 fatalities officially reported even as Bihar created yet anotherrecord with 12,672 people testing positive in a day out of 1,0,8147 samples tested.

Choudhary, who had also served as Arwal DM, breathed his last at AIIMS-Patna. CM Nitish Kumar and healthminister Mangal Pandey expressed deep condolence over his death. Nitish said Choudhary’s demise was a big loss to the administration and society and prayed for the departed soul and his family. Pandey also prayed for the departed soul and called his death a big loss for the department.

On the back of the spiking caseload and rising deaths, Bihar’s Covid positivity rate on Friday also reached 11.71%, which is the highest so far and above the danger mark. Patna also reported the highest number of new cases where 2,801 people tested positive.

வீட்டிற்குள்ளும் முக கவசம் அணிவது அவசியம்'

வீட்டிற்குள்ளும் முக கவசம் அணிவது அவசியம்'

Updated : ஏப் 24, 2021 06:20

சென்னை :''கொரோனா தொற்று அதிதீவிரம் அடைந்துள்ள நிலையில் இனி வீட்டிற்கு உள்ளேயும் முக கவசம் அணிந்தாக வேண்டிய கட்டாயம் எழுந்துள்ளது'' என தமிழ்நாடு டாக்டர் எம்.ஜி.ஆர். மருத்துவ பல்கலை துணைவேந்தர் சுதா சேஷய்யன் கூறினார்.

அவர் கூறியதாவது:கொரோனா தொற்று இதுவரை இல்லாத வகையில் உச்சத்துக்கு சென்றுள்ளது. சில மாதங்களுக்கு முன் ஒருவருக்கு பாதிப்பு உறுதிசெய்யப்பட்டால் அவருக்கு எங்கிருந்து தொற்று பரவியது என்பதை கண்டறிவது கடினமாக இருந்தது. மேலும் சம்பந்தப்பட்ட நபருடன் தொடர்பில் இருந்தவர்கள் எவரெவர் என்பதை தேட வேண்டிய நிலை இருந்தது.தற்போதோ குடும்பம் குடும்பமாக கொரோனா பாதிப்பு கண்டறியப் படுகிறது.

கணவருக்கு கொரோனா இருந்தால் அதற்கு அடுத்த சில நாட்களில்மனைவிக்கும் குழந்தைகளுக்கும் அறி குறிகள் தென் படுகின்றன.அவர்கள் அனைவருக்கும் தொற்று உறுதிசெய்யப்படுவதற்குள்ஏறத்தாழ 25 சதவீத நுரையீரல் பாதிப்பு ஏற்பட்டு விடுகிறது. அதன்பின் மருத்துவமனைகளில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டு சிகிச்சை பெற வேண்டிய அவசியம்எழுகிறது. இதற்கு முக்கிய காரணம் குடும்பஉறுப்பினர்கள் ஒரே அறைக்குள் பல மணி நேரம் அருகருகே இருப்பது தான்.

அதேபோல கோடை காலத்தில் மூடப்பட்ட அறைக்குள் ஏ.சி. சாதனங்களை நீண்ட நேரம் இயக்குவதும் தொற்றுபரவுதலுக்கு வழிவகுக்கிறது.நாள்தோறும் வெளியே பணிக்கு சென்று வரும் குடும்ப உறுப்பினர்பிற உறுப்பினர்கள், குழந்தைகளிடம் இருந்து சற்று விலகி இருப்பதன் வாயிலாக நோய் தொற்று பரவலை தடுக்கலாம்.

அதேபோல அவர் தனியே தூங்குவதும், தூங்கும் நேரம் தவிர பிற நேரங்களில் வீட்டிற்கு உள்ளேயும் முக கவசம் அணிய வேண்டிய அவசியம் எழுந்துள்ளது. சில காலத்துக்கு இத்தகைய கஷ்டங்களை சகித்து கொண்டால் கொரோனாவை வெல்ல முடியும். நம் குடும்பத்தின் நலனையும் காக்கமுடியும்.இவ்வாறு சுதா சேஷய்யன் கூறினார்.

Chennai may reach over 19,000 daily COVID cases by mid-May, shows epidemiologist's model

Chennai may reach over 19,000 daily COVID cases by mid-May, shows epidemiologist's model

On Friday, Chennai reported 3,842 cases and 37 deaths. There were 31,170 active cases in the city and beds in all COVID-19 treatment hospitals are fast filling.

Published: 23rd April 2021 08:30 PM |

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Chennai may reach over 19,000 daily COVID-19 cases by mid-May at the current Rt value of 1.3, a model by an epidemiologist at the National Institute of Epidemiology, Indian Council of Medical Research, Chennai, showed.

The Rt value indicates the average number of people that one person with COVID-19 is expected to infect. The current Rt in Chennai is 1.3 -- that is one person is expected to infect 1.3 others.

The projections made by S Manikanda Nesan, Epidemiologist, National Institute of Epidemiology, ICMR based on an Rt of 1.3 suggested that by May 15, Chennai may report 19,141 COVID-19 cases daily.

"On 5 May the daily cases may be 9,652 and by 25 April 4,860 cases. Is it a scary tale ahead for Chennai?" asked Manikanda Nesan, sharing his projections on Twitter on Friday. He also said the health system cannot cope with the burden.

"This projection is based on current Rt. More vaccination will definitely bring down Rt and that's exactly what we all really wish for," Manikanda Nesan said.