Wear mask inside home too & don’t invite visitors: Centre

Wear mask inside home too & don’t invite visitors: Centre

Sushmi.Dey@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:27.04.2021

Amid a rapid spread of Covid-19 cases, the Centre on Monday advised people to wear masks even inside homes, especially when using a common space and also said that it is best not to invite visitors.

NITI Aayog member and head of the government’s group on vaccinations, Dr V K Paul said, “It is time people start wearing masks inside their homes as well, especially when everyone is sitting together.” He said mask protocol should definitely be followed if there is a person isolated due to Covid at home to reduce risk of infection.

“In this situation, masks are absolutely necessary, so do not go out unnecessarily. Stay with family. And also, even within the family, please wear masks. Do not invite people inside homes. There is a transmissibility angle. We must protect ourselves and our family members to the best of our ability,” Dr Paul said at the weekly briefing on Covid on Monday.

The government also highlighted improper use of masks and lack of physical distancing can increase the risk of transmission by 90%. It cited studies to show such a risk with two individuals not wearing a mask and failing to maintain adequate social distancing. The risk gets reduced to 30% if the unaffected person is wearing a mask.

The government said studies show an infected patient can end up passing the infection to 406 people in 30 days in the absence of physical distancing. The risk comes down to infecting 2.5 persons in 30 days if he follows physical distancing measures. The government also said in the current circumstances, people with symptoms of Covid-19 should be treated as positive cases even if their RT-PCR status is negative or not available.

India on Sunday recorded 3.52 lakh Covid-19 cases. This was the fifth day in a row when over three lakh cases were registered. Amid concerns about RT-PCR test results showing negative despite symptoms of Covid, AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria said: “Often it can happen that RT-PCR test is negative because the sensitivity of the test is not100%.”

Paul: Can’t let pace of Covid vaccination decline in face of emerging situation

He added, “In such situations, if clinical symptoms are classical and there is a close contact who is positive, you should assume you have Covid.” He added that many hospitals have now created a Covid suspect ward for such patients who are awaiting a positive report but have symptoms.

The Centre also stressed the need to ramp up vaccination. “We cannot let the pace of Covid-19 vaccination decline or slacken in the face of the emerging situation. In fact, it should be escalated and with that intent the government of India brought a revised (vaccination) policy. We believe and are confident that will bring in more acceleration,” NITI Aayog member Dr V K Paul said.

Given 24 hrs to live, 75-yr-old recovers in 13 days

Given 24 hrs to live, 75-yr-old recovers in 13 days

Mumbai:  26.04.2021 

A 75-year-old woman, whose family was told she may not have more than 24 hours to live after being diagnosed with severe Covid, went home last week after putting up a fierce fight for 13 days, reports Sumitra Deb Roy.

As Shailaja Nakwe walked out of Ghatkopar’s Sonagra Medical and Surgical Centre on Wednesday, doctors and nurses there celebrated her discharge by cutting a cake with her CT (computed tomography) score of 25/25—the most severe count— iced on it. “Her recovery was a sweet victory against the virus we are all so desperately fighting. She was a diabetic who came to us with near 100% lung involvement, went on to need complete ventilator support and came out of it,” said Dr Rajaram Sonagra, her treating doctor.

The Dombivli resident had been suffering from fever for 3-4 days before one of her sons visited her and found that her oxygen saturation was 69%. The family rushed her to the Ghatkopar hospital that had an oxygen bed available.

Shailaja Nakwe had a 25/25 CT score, the most severe count

‘My mother says she has touched death and come back’

Hours after admission on April 8, she had to be put on a non-invasive ventilator. “Her oxygen dependence went up from 80% to 100%. All five lobes of the lung had over 75% involvement. She was breathing with great difficulty,” said the doctor. A CT score of 25/25 is a textbook case for referral to a higher centre, but Shailaja refused to be moved.

The doctors started treating her with Remdesivir and a group of antibiotics.

Shailaja’s son Prashant Nakwe said he will never forget the struggle to arrange for six doses of Remdesivir. The family could finally source it from Kalyan. “When we were told she may have just 24 hours to live, my mind had stopped working but my heart said she was a fighter. None of us gave up,” Prashant told TOI.

Prashant said her condition started to turn around after five days when her oxygen dependence started falling. Dr Sonagra said she was taken off Bipap after 12 days, but she needed regular oxygen support. She currently needs 2 litre oxygen at home and could take upto six months for complete recovery. “My mother says she has touched death and come back,” the son added.

Intensivist Dr Rahul Pandit said a CT score of 25/25 can be treated with good ICU support and provided the patient has come on time and doesn’t have any comorbidities.

1,242 fresh MBBS grads get corona duty

1,242 fresh MBBS grads get corona duty

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:  26.04.2021 

The state health department on Sunday issued an order for 1,242 fresh MBBS graduates from various government and GMERS Trustrun medical colleges to report to the respective district collectors or municipal commissioners on Monday for Covid duties.

The order by state health commissioner Jai Prakash Shivahare mentioned that if the doctors fail to report by Monday, an action can be initiated against them under provisions of Epidemics Act. The order is issued for 513 graduates of state-run medical colleges, 136 graduates on bond period from the state-run medical colleges and 593 graduates from GMERS medical colleges.

“The state, and country at large, is reeling under unprecedented medical emergency and there is dire requirement of manpower to run the newlyconstructed facilities. While physical infrastructure can be created within days, it is not enough without experienced medical professionals. Thus, it’s also an appeal to the students to give their best in these testing times,” said a senior health department official. “We have also brought in doctors under bond period for the Covid duty in 2020.”

Officials added that as the students would be getting double the bond period for their Covid duty, they can complete one year period within six months.

Remembering Justice Mohan Shantanagoudar Through His Judgments

Remembering Justice Mohan Shantanagoudar Through His Judgments: Supreme Court judge Justice Mohan Mallikarajanagouda Shantanagoudar passed away on April 24, at the age of 62 years.Elevated to the Supreme Court in February 2017, he had a tenure till May 5,

Critical air hostess airlifted on word from Sonu Sood

Critical air hostess airlifted on word from Sonu Sood

Petlee.Peter@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:26.04.2021

A 26-year-old Indi-Go airlines air hostess, suffering from an acute infection of Covid-19, was airlifted from Nagpur to Hyderabad by a Bengaluru-based extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) air ambulance team, which reportedly carried out the expensive flight for free on word from actor Sonu Sood.

The Bollywood star, who himself tested positive at the time of the incident, ensured the young girl from Maharashtra received timely treatment. Her condition is stable.

Sources say the staff on IndiGo’s domestic sector, from a village near Nagpur, tested positive on April 15. She comes from a lower middle class family and her father is a retired railway staff.

“As the condition of the air hostess deteriorated, she was brought to Wockhardt Hospital in Nagpur on April 18. The infection had badly damaged her lungs and she was put on ventilator support. Staff of the hospital had contacted actor Sonu Sood who got in touch with us,” said Dr Shalini Nalwad, cofounder of International Critical Care Air Transfer Team (ICATT) Foundation and Air Ambulance services, based in Bengaluru.

Realising that the woman came from an economically poor background, Nalwad along with the co-founder of ICATT, Dr Rahul Singh Sardar, took the call to provide the air ambulance service and mobile ECMO treatment worth ₹17 lakh for free. “Our team with a flying ECMO unit reached Wockhardt Hospital on Wednesday. The girl was stabilized and with assistance from ECMO equipment, she was transported by road to the Nagpur airport on Thursday morning. She was then airlifted to Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad,” Dr Nalwad said.

No problem in taking jab during periods, say docs

No problem in taking jab during periods, say docs

Chaitanya.Deshpande@timesgroup.com

Nagpur: 26.04.2021

As the country is fast getting ready to vaccinate its 18+ citizens from May 1, the spreading of misconceptions and fake news about anti-Covid inoculations too are picking up speed on social media.

Apart from the regular WhatsApp forwards holding the vaccine responsible for impotency, DNA alteration and cardiac arrest, the latest and most circulated one is about vaccination for women during their menstrual cycle. Experts have debunked all these theories.

The message reads: “Don’t take vaccine before and after 5 days of your periods because immunity will be very less during periods. Doses of vaccine first decrease immunity later it builds immunity. So, there is a high risk of attack for one who is vaccinated during periods.” Gynecologists are getting a lot of queries because of this post.

“There is no scientific basis to support this. Don’t fall for rumours. There is no reason not to get vaccinated during periods. No guidelines list menstruation as a reason to put off the vaccine,” said Dr Vaidehi Marathe, former president of Nagpur Obstetrics and Gynaecology Society (NOGS).

“This change of immunity with menstruation is very theoretical and never proved. The link that is being circulated with this message is not even a scientific journal and written by a freelance journalist and not a doctor or a research scientist,” she clarified.

President of NOGS, Dr Warsha Dhawale said, “It takes a huge amount of work for arranging vaccination, especially in remote areas. Such controversial messages may hamper the vaccination program if women refuse jabs just because of being in periods.”

Many teachers lose jobs

Many teachers lose jobs

26.04.2021

Madurai:

While teachers in private schools have been struggling to get their salaries as schools remain shut due to Covid-19, for teachers who teach co-curricular subjects like music, dance, karate, arts and crafts etc., their livelihood has been lost for the past year. Across Tamil Nadu, more than 50,000 co-curricular special teachers, including a large section of women teachers, are employed in private schools. Since the Covid-19 lockdown was imposed in March last year, several special teachers were either asked to quit or told they won’t be paid till schools reopen. TNN

Lost vision: HC refuses to quash FIR against doc

Lost vision: HC refuses to quash FIR against doc

Madurai:  26.04.2021

Refusing to quash an FIR registered against a doctor in a case in which a woman lost vision in her left eye after alleged transfusion of old stock blood in Sivaganga district in 2016, Madras high court directed the police to conduct a thorough investigation in the case. The court was hearing the petition filed by Dr Rammohanrao in 2017, seeking to quash the FIR registered against him by Karaikudi North police.

Selvam had admitted his wife Parvatham, who was complaining of severe stomach ache, to Padmini Rammohanrao Hospital at Karaikudi in 2016. The petitioner, who was the chief doctor, examined the woman and said there was a stone in the kidney to remove which she required surgery. One unit blood was transfused to the woman which was allegedly found to be of old stock. Due to this reason, the woman complained about loss of vision in her left eye. The petitioner had allegedly offered ₹2 lakh as compensation and asked Selvam to give an undertaking that the hospital was not responsible for the loss of his wife’s vision. Selvam refused to take the money and asked the petitioner to treat his wife to regain her eyesight. Thereafter, some people allegedly threatened Selvam following which he lodged a complaint based on which a case was registered against Rammohanrao. TNN

One killed, 5 injured as bees attack them while cleaning tank

One killed, 5 injured as bees attack them while cleaning tank

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:26.04.2021

A 34-year-old man died and five others suffered injuries after they were attacked by a swarm of honey bees while cleaning a huge water tank in Padi on Saturday.

While police identified the deceased as P S Sundar, a resident of Kodungaiyur, a fire and rescue services department employee who rushed in to help is being treated at Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital. G Sellakumar, 24, N Vinoth Kumar, 25, of Villivakkam, D Gopinath, 25, of Kodungaiyur, G Raghunath, 28, of Nagapattinam and V Michael, 46, of Mogappair are also being treated there.

While a honeybee sting is painful but is usually harmless, with people experiencing swelling, itching and redness in the affected area, it can be life threatening if stung multiple times by a swarm of bees and also if a person is allergic to the venom and develops nausea, say doctors.

Police said Sundar and five others, hired by Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) to clean the water tank at Millennium Park, were climbing down a spiral staircase by the side when they came under attack by the swarm. Sundar rushed down the stairs despite being stung, while the others rushed back to the top of the tank and got stuck there.

Soon, a team of fire fighters from JJ Nagar and Kilpauk arrived. “Since they could not locate the beehive, they climbed the stairs wearing protective gear to bring down those stuck there and were also stung,” said an official. A few residents brought fire torches to chase away the bees, but failed.

People struggle to reach home from railway stn

People struggle to reach home from railway stn

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:26.04.2021

The first Sunday shutdown left stranded people who arrived in the city by early morning trains at Egmore and Central. They came out to deserted roads, with hardly any cabs or autorickshaws in sight. The few drivers around kept an eye out for the cops.

At Egmore railway station, families were seen waiting with bags at around 7.45am. There were no autos available at the pre-paid counter. People who had to go to Sowcarpet managed to get some vehicles arranged by their relatives after a wait of around half an hour. Some people who had to go to Ekkattuthangal were seen bargaining with a few auto drivers who were hesitating to drop them fearing police crackdown.

A TOI photojournalist saw around 15 groups of people including families waiting outside the station for vehicles. A few who lived nearby decided to walk. A woman and two children waiting with heavy bags said "We are coming from Madurai and expected autos to be available at the pre-paid counter.” The woman said she had called her husband who would bring his motorcycle and was try to arrange another vehicle. The three finally had to travel on the bike with bags after they could not arrange another vehicle.

A few autos that drove by quoted exorbitant fares while a few others refused to ride. "I do not want to take a risk because I do not have an excuse to tell the police when I return after dropping the passengers,” said an auto driver.

A railway official said, “We have asked the state government to exempt vehicles coming to the railway stations from the restrictions.”

The official said there was a shortage only early in the morning and that autos and cabs were available at Egmore and Central later in the day.

STRANDED: People wait for transport with their luggage outside MGR Central railway station

Metro and suburban train services ease travel woes

Chennai:

Metro rail and suburban train services came in handy for commuters who had to travel for emergency purposes on Sunday when buses, autos and cabs stayed off the roads during the complete lockdown.

Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) operated trains every one hour, while suburban trains ran every two hours so that medical professionals, paramedical staff, Greater Chennai Corporation staff and other frontline workers could travel. T K Pandian, a regular commuter, said people working in hospitals and in restaurants were mostly found taking the train. “But the footfalls were less. I could see only a handful of people in the station at Anna Nagar Tower in the evening,” he said.

A few metro stations received 50 to 70 people through the day, while suburban trains had some more people as railway staff too used the trains to come to work apart from health services staff.

Railways has scaled down the number of suburban services and have been running around 459 services per day instead of the 700 trains due to the restrictions announced by the state government. But will be adding more trains following demand on weekdays. Railways will add around 21 suburban trains on different routes from Monday to Saturday. An additional train has been added in the coming days on Avadi-Tiruvallur, Avadi-Arakkonam, MMC-Avadi, MMC-Arakkonam, Chennai Beach-Tiruvallur, MMC-Tiruvallur, Arakkonam-Chennai Beach, Avadi-MMC and Tiruvallur-MMC routes. Five trains have been added to the Chennai Beach-Avadi route, three to Avadi-Chennai Beach, and two each on Tiruvallur-Chennai Beach and Tiruvallur-Avadi. TNN

AROUND TAMILNADU

AROUND TAMILNADU

26.04.2021

It takes up to 5 days to get test results in Trichy

The Tamilnadu Government Doctors Association recently submitted a set of recommendations to the state government to control the rising number of Covid-19 cases. In a statement, association president K Senthil said the government should ensure shops deliver essentials at doorsteps so that people don’t have to step out. They added that work-from-home should be encouraged at government and private offices and that only one-third of the workers should be allowed to use offices at a given point of time. They added that biomedical engineers should be deployed to ensure proper maintenance of ventilators and oxygen supply system. The Indian Medical Association (IMA), in a statement, requested the state government not to divert oxygen to other states until Tamil Nadu becomes selfsufficient.

Civil service aspirants to be trained online this year

Due to the Covid-19 second wave, the state- government sponsored coaching for civil service aspirants will be held online again. The state government had ordered that all its coaching institutes be closed from April 19 due to the surge in Covid cases. “All aspirants residing on Anna Institute of Management premises have returned to their native places. To help them, the institute will post lectures by experts on various topics on its two YouTube channels,” the institute said in a release. The online coaching will continue till inperson classes are permitted. The two YouTube channels of the institute have more than 22,000 followers.

Doctors chalk out plans to check Covid spike

The Tamilnadu Government Doctors Association recently submitted a set of recommendations to the state government to control the rising number of Covid-19 cases. In a statement, association president K Senthil said the government should ensure shops deliver essentials at doorsteps so people don’t have to step out. They said biomedical engineers should be deployed to ensure proper maintenance of ventilators and oxygen supply system. The Indian Medical Association, in a statement, requested the state not to divert oxygen to other states until Tamil Nadu becomes self-sufficient.

People across state play by the rules on first lockdown Sunday

People across state play by the rules on first lockdown Sunday

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

26.04.2021

Streets across the state looked empty on the first complete lockdown Sunday to reduce the impact of the Covid-19 second wave. A majority of the public stayed indoors and those venturing out were out visiting hospitals and pharmacies and were stopped and checked by police.

All shops except pharmacies and fuel outlets were closed. Some hotels were functioning in Coimbatore, but they offered only takeaways. Food delivery personnel were also on the streets as the government permitted delivery during fixed timings.

As many as 500 police personnel were deployed acrossCoimbatore. Hundreds of guest workershad,however, gathered at the Coimbatore Railway Junction on Saturday night and were wait- ingforDhanbad and Gorakhpur Express. Mohan Prasad, 21, of Basti district in Uttar Pradesh, who has been working for a pump manufacturing companyatThennampalayam for the past eight years, said he decided to return as his parents were worried about his safety. “I won’t get any work in my hometown. I will rear cattle and sell milk, and return when the situation becomes normal,” he told TOI.

“We are allowing people to attend funerals, ones going to hospital and people involved in essential work. Action was taken against only those who ventured out for fun,” said a police officer posted at Goripalayam junction in Madurai. But the lockdown did not go well for the homeless as they couldn’t find food.

People responded well to the total lockdown in the other southern districts as well. The Tirunelveli city police monitored various localities using a drone. Those, who were roaming on the streets were advised to return home. The Tenkasi city police distributed food to homeless people as they were deprived of food due to total lockdown.

In Trichy, all the commercial streets were completely deserted. “Arterial roads did not witness even 1% of the usual buzz. This is the most successful lockdown we have enforced since the pandemic began last March,” a police officer in Trichy city said. Those attending weddings were seen carrying the wedding invitations to avoid penalties

SCENES ACROSS TN : (from top) Deserted Kalavasal Junction; A security guard on his way to work at RS Puram, Coimbatore; A daily wage earner, a rickshaw puller was seen waiting for a ride on the total lockdown Sunday in Madurai

‘States will get free vax, they can also buy’

‘States will get free vax, they can also buy’

New Delhi:26.04.2021

Amid intense criticism over differential pricing of vaccines, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan on Sunday dismissed allegations that the Centre was getting 50% of the local vaccine production at a cheaper price than states. He said the Centre did not give vaccines directly to anyone and the jabs were distributed through states and UTs. After May 1, these vaccines will be free of cost in government hospitals for people above 45 years.

“The actual situation is that states are getting one guaranteed channel of free vaccine supply, while they can simultaneously procure vaccines from another channel as per its aspirations and commitment to its people,” Vardhan said in a four-page statement posted on Twitter.

He also said the norms for vaccination have been eased to allow a free hand to states as well as private sector to ensure more people can get shots quickly. TNN

A SHOT OF

HOPE

Critical to give a free hand to states: Vardhan

The minister said, “While the dreaded disease is spreading like a tsunami, it was critical to ease the controls and allow a free hand to state governments as well as the private sector.”

Without naming Congress, he said, “I am also compelled to point out that there are certain political leaders who have chosen to indulge in

needless politics on the issue of vaccination and are spreading misinformation at every step, whether it is about efficacy or about pricing.”

Following widespread demand to open up vaccination for all adults, the Centre announced a new Covid-19 vaccination policy permitting all those above 18 years to take the shots from May 1. However, unlike the arrangement so far, the Centre will now procure 50% of local vaccine production and distribute it for free to those above 45 along with health and frontline workers through states. The remaining 50% of vaccines will be open for procurement by states, private hospitals and corporate sector.

Vardhan said while many questions were being raised on this “balance 50% quota”, the decision will grant flexibility to states as many had asked that the vaccination process be opened up for them.

“Now, this ‘balance 50% quota’ shall give them the freedom vaccinate groups that they deem as priority,” Vardhan said, underlining that health was a state subject and the Centre essentially coordinated with states. He noted that many states had said the shots will be for free.

Private and corporate sector options will empower a large number of people to get themselves quickly vaccinated outside the government route. “In essence, those who can afford to get them at private and corporate sector rates shall go ahead,” Vardhan said.

He added as per their earlier demand, states will now have the liberty to procure directly from vaccine manufacturers and even negotiate prices based on volumes. “This will also cut delays,” he said.

Vardhan maintained that there was no shortage of vaccines and diagnostics, and urged political parties to put the success of the vaccination programme above everything else. “There is no need for a crisis of confidence regarding alleged shortage of diagnostics and vaccines, because there are none,” he said.

India has administered over 14 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccines so far.

Congress accuses govt of facilitating vaccine profiteering

New Delhi:

Congress on Sunday accused the Modi government of facilitating vaccine profiteering amid the steep and persistent rise in coronavirus cases in the country.

Congress’s communications head Randeep Surjewala said it was unacceptable that the two vaccines available in India were being sold at five different price points and accused the Modi government of abdicating its responsibility to the people by allowing this to happen.

Surjewala also alleged that by introducing the “highly discriminatory vaccine policy” under which the vaccines would be sold at different prices to the Centre, states and private hospitals, the government had allowed the two vaccine manufacturers, Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech, to make a profit of ₹1.11lakh crore at the expense of India’s young. “Modi government’s vaccination policy has deregulated 50% production of the two vaccine manufacturers — Serum Institute (Covishield) and Bharat Biotech (Covaxin) — as free from price regulation, to fix the prices for supply to states and private institutions. The two have now released an absolutely discriminatory pricing policy,” he said.

Last week, Serum Institute announced that it will sell its vaccine to the Centre at ₹150 per dose, to states at ₹400 a piece and to private hospitals at ₹600 per vial. TNN

Germany, Italy & B’desh too bar travellers from India

Germany, Italy & B’desh too bar travellers from India

Saurabh.Sinha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:26.04.2021

Germany, Italy, Maldives and Bangladesh have restricted entry of travellers from India with immediate effect due to the Covid situation here.

Now, only German nationals and holders of a German resident permit travelling from India are allowed to enter there. Lufthansa and Air India, however, say they are not suspending flights between India and Germany.

Italy has barred foreign travellers who have been in India in the past 14 days from entering the country. Italian residents in India will be allowed to return with a negative test result before departure and on arrival, when they will have to go into quarantine.

On Sunday, Maldives tourism minister tweeted: “With effect from April 27, (Maldives’ health authorities) suspends tourists travelling from India to Maldives from staying at tourist facilities in inhabited islands.”

The highly infectious coronavirus mutant in India has led to several countries in past few days barring or restricting travellers from the country. These include UK, UAE, Canada, Kuwait, Oman, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Indonesia.

On Saturday, German Health Minister Jens Spahn tweeted (this is English translation): “The newly discovered virus mutation in India worries us very much. In order not to jeopardise our vaccination campaign, travel to India must be significantly restricted. Therefore, the federal government will shortly declare India a virus variant area. From Sunday night, only Germans from India are allowed to enter; they must also be tested before departure and immediately after entry sent into a 14-day quarantine.”

Under the new rules for travel from India to Germany, “transit via Germany to any Schengen destination is only permitted for German nationals and holders of a German resident permit. Transit to any non-Schengen destination is permitted for all nationalities. Holders of German short- and long-term visas are not allowed to enter Germany. Students on new German student visa and not holding a resident permit of Germany are not allowed to enter Germany… Members of aforeign diplomatic mission or consular office and their accompanying close family members whose appointment and arrival into Germany has been notified to the German Federal Foreign Office are allowed to enter Germany”.

TIGHT MEASURES: Passengers check their mobile phones next to a sign indicating the way to a sanitary control point for passengers arriving from countries listed as Covid-19 red zones, in Roissy, near Paris, on Sunday. Passengers arriving in France from India must take a Covid antigen test and follow a 10-day home quarantine

Covid is a mild disease, no need to panic, says Guleria

Covid is a mild disease, no need to panic, says Guleria

New Delhi:26.04.2021

Covid-19 is a mild disease and there is no need to panic, said AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria on Sunday while addressing issues related to coronavirus with Chairman of Medanta Dr Naresh Trehan, Professor and Head of Department of Medicine AIIMS Dr Naveet Wig and Director General Health Services Dr Sunil Kumar.

“If we talk about the current situation of Covid-19, there is panic in public, Due to this panic, people are putting injections in their houses, hoarding of the Remdesivir drug and oxygen cylinder has started with this. And because of this, we are facing a shortage of supply and unnecessary panic is being created,” Guleria said. He further said, “The Covid-19 infection is a normal infection. 85 to 90% of people are witnessing normal symptoms like fever, cold, body ache, and cough and in these cases, one doesn’t need Remdesivir or other large numbers of medicines. You can take medicines for these normal infections or treat yourself with home remedies and yoga.” ANI

Covid 2nd wave has shaken country: PM

Covid 2nd wave has shaken country: PM

Prioritize Expert Advice, PM Says In Mann ki Baat

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:26.04.2021

The second wave of Covid-19 infections has shaken the country and is testing the patience and limits of people but the government is utilising its entire might to give a fillip to efforts of state governments to overcome the crisis and beat back the disease, PM Narendra Modi said on Sunday.

In his monthly ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio address, the PM acknowledged the virulence and spread of the current wave. “Many of our near and dear ones have left us untimely. After successfully confronting the first wave of corona, the country was full of enthusiasm, full of self-confidence, but this storm has shaken the country,” he said.

Seeking to reassure people of the efforts to contain the spread of infections, Modi said he has had lengthy deliberations with experts from the pharma industry, vaccine manufacturers, those connected with oxygen production and experts from the medical field who had all offered valuable suggestions. “This time, for emerging victorious in this battle, we have to accord priority to expert and scientific advice. The government of India is applying its entire might to give a fillip to the endeavours of state governments,” he said.

People should get info only from correct sources: Modi

The PM said, “The states too are trying their best to fulfil their responsibilities.” In a departure from his usual practice, Sunday’s Mann ki Baat was only on Covid-19 with experts and healthcare workers speaking of their experience and the need to contain panic.

Modi spoke to doctors, nurses and ambulance drivers to instil confidence in people and said the biggest priority was to defeat the disease.

Modi emphasised that people should get information only from correct sources. “You can consult your family doctor or doctors in the neighbourhood on the phone. I am noticing that many of our doctors are taking upon themselves this responsibility, on their own. Many doctors are providing information to people through social media.... Many hospitals have websites where information is available,” he said.

The PM urged people to opt for vaccination and not be swayed by rumours.

“Now, from May 1 onwards, the vaccine is going to be made available for every person above 18 in the country. Now, the corporate sector and companies too will be able to participate in the programme of administering vaccines to their employees,” he said, adding that the programme of free vaccination by the Centre would continue.

Full report on www.toi.in

Banks in TN to work only till 2pm from today

Banks in TN to work only till 2pm from today

26.04.2021

Amid surge in Covid cases, bank branches in Tamil Nadu will function only between 10am and 2pm from Monday till the end of the month, the State Level Bankers’ Committee-Tamil Nadu (SLBC-TN) said on Saturday and issued a series of guidelines for members banks. The timing will be reviewed after April 30, based on the Covid-19 situation in the state.

Active cases may peak at 48 lakh mid May: Scientists

Active cases may peak at 48 lakh mid May: Scientists

New Cases Could Hit Peak Of 4.4L In Next 10 Days

Vishwa.Mohan@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:26.04.2021

With the huge number of daily Covid-19 cases showing no signs of easing in the next two-three weeks, IIT scientists working on a mathematical model to predict the course of the pandemic on Sunday revised both the timing and value of peak cases, saying the peak for ‘active’ infections may touch 38-48 lakh cases during May 14-18 while the peak for ‘new’ infections hitting 4.4 lakh in the next10 days.

“I have now computed a range of values for peak value and timing and the final numbers should be within this range. Reason for this uncertainly is that the parameter values for the last phase continue to drift,” tweeted Manindra Agrawal of IIT-Kanpur, involved with the national ‘super model’ initiative, while referring to the updates on peak timing and peak value.

“Peak timing: May 14-18 for activeinfectionsandMay 4-8 for new infections. Peak value: 38-48 lakh for active infections and 3.4-4.4 lakh for new infections,” Agrawal tweeted on Sunday. He had told TOI last week about the importance of such prediction despite the risk of going off the mark, noting that such an exercise through mathematical model was important for preparing policymakers for a proper response mechanism in terms of medical preparedness, supplies and facilities.

Referring to the model, called Sutra, Agrawal had explained that one should not confuse the two different peaks — one of daily ‘new’ cases which are more commonly observed and another of total number of ‘active’ infections which will come roughly 10 days after the peak for ‘new’ cases.

Update on prediction of peak timing and value means the number of ‘active’ cases in India will keep increasing roughly till mid-May before showing a decline. If the current model shows the trend correctly, the mid-May peak will now be around four times higher than the first peak of over 10 lakh ‘active’ cases witnessed on September 17 last year. India’s total ‘active’ caseload on Sunday reached 26,82,751.

On April 1, the model had predicted the peak of ‘active’ cases somewhere between April15-20 at around10 lakh — the same level as what the country saw in September last year. These figures were, however, later revised with the model last week predicting the possibility of a peak between May 11-15 with 33-35 lakh ‘active’ infections.

Asked about the reasons for such large variation in prediction which keeps on changing, Agrawal had then told TOI, “The severity (of the Covid-19 spread) has made computations go haywire. We were seeing significant drift in parameter values for India in our model and so the (previous) modelling was not accurate.”

He said the parameter values kept changing due to new data from states and that’s why the peak value kept shifting. A scientific paper on Sutra by three scientists (Manindra Agrawal, Madhuri Kanitkar and Mathukumalli Vidyasagar) claimed to have applied the model to predict progression of the Covid-19 pandemic in several countries.

WORKING OUT THE DAMAGE: IIT scientists used a mathematical model to predict the course of the pandemic

Cancel order to send 80 tonnes of oxygen to AP, T’gana: CM to PM

Cancel order to send 80 tonnes of oxygen to AP, T’gana: CM to PM

CM’s Letter Says TN May Face Shortfall

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:26.04.2021

Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Sunday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to immediately cancel the order to divert 80 tonnes of oxygen produced in Tamil Nadu to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. With the number of active cases crossing one lakh, the state’s requirement for medical oxygen will increase significantly in the coming days, the chief minister said.

In a letter sent to the PM, chief minister Palaniswami said the state is taking all efforts to reduce positive cases but considering the current trend, the state would require 450 tonnes soon, which would be more than Tamil Nadu’s current production capacity of 400 tonnes.

In the latest national medical oxygen allotment plan, the allocation for Tamil Nadu has been fixed at 220 tonnes and based on this wrong allotment, 80 tonnes of liquid oxygen was diverted from manufacturing facilities located at Sriperumbudur to Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, the CM said. “As per Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisations (PESO) data, the consumption of oxygen in Tamil Nadu has already reached 310 tonnes, as against the inadequate allotment of 220 tonne made to the state,” Palaniswami said.

NO ENTRY: A deserted G N Chetty Road on Sunday night

Sterlite: All-party meet in TN today

The state government has convened an all-party meeting to be chaired by the CM on Monday to discuss the reopening of Sterlite copper plant in Tuticorin to manufacture oxygen. The meeting will start at 9.15am at the secretariat. “Invitations have been sent to all recognised political parties, including the AIADMK, the DMK, the BJP, the Congress, the PMK, the DMDK, the CPI and the CPM,” sources said. The Supreme Court will hear Vedanta’s plea to reopen the plant at at 11.30am on Monday . P 5

500 oxygen-bed care centres in city zones

The Chennai city corporation is planning to open a 500 oxygen-bed covid care centre in each zone. Guindy trade centre at south zone, Kilpauk indoor stadium for central zone, and K P Park for north zone have been tentatively identified for this. While the Guindy centre has 500 beds, the K P Park facility, shutdown in February, will reopen this week with 1,200 beds. Of the 11,645 beds at 13 covid care centres, 2,410 beds are currently occupied.

‘Depriving hotspot Chennai of oxygen wrong’

The chief minister said, “Compared to the maximum active cases number of 58,000 during the surge in 2020, the active caseload has already increased to over a lakh today. This has increased the oxygen demand. All efforts are being made to provide uninterrupted and adequate oxygen supply.”

Further, the states to which the allotment has been made have fewer active cases than Tamil Nadu and also have major steel industries located within their state/ close to their states. Hence, the diversion from the Sriperumbudur plant, which supplies Chennai city that has the second biggest caseload in South India, seems to have no justification. This needs to be immediately corrected, the chief minister said.

“While Tamil Nadu has never imposed any restrictions so far and is always ready to support other states, such mandatory diversion of liquid oxygen from the needs of our state can lead to major crises in Chennai and other districts. Hence, I request that diversion of 80 kilo litres from Sriperumbudur plant may immediately be cancelled,” Palaniswami said.

Foreign med grads oppose 2-year limit to clear test

Foreign med grads oppose 2-year limit to clear test

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai: 26.04.2021 

With the Foreign Medical Graduates Examinations (FMGEs) recording a poor pass percentage, graduates and education consultants say the proposed two year limit for clearing the screening test, mandatory for practising in India, isn’t practical.

Every year, around 3,000 students from Tamil Nadu who have completed medical degrees in foreign universities appear for the FMGE that is held twice a year. Only 19.4%ofn foreign medical graduates cleared the screening test held in December 2020.

The National Medical Council’s draft regulation 2021 for foreign medical graduates, released on its website, gives only two years to clear the test. It also proposes an additional paper in pre and para clinical subjects.

Many students say they prepare for the test only in the final year or pre-final year and that the new rule will add to the pressure. M Vignesh, a final year student at Xinjiang Medical University in China, said he could not write the test in December 2020 due to a delay in getting a provisional certificate.

“As per the proposed regulation, students get only four attempts. Foreign medical graduates usually face delays in getting certificates and will need time to prepare. If they miss one or two attempts, it will put them under enormous pressure,” he said.

Nirosha, who cleared the test in December 2020 with a score of 179 (students need to score 150 of 300 to be eligible to practise in India), said students have to prepare well in all 20 subjects. “The difficulty level varies for each test which makes it difficult to clear in one or two attempts.”

Education consultants said admissions in foreign universities will be affected. “The proposed regulations are against students,” said C Ravichandran, managing director, Study Abroad Educational Consultants.

“They [students] go out of the country only because they fail to get a seat here. They travel abroad at a very young age and return to serve people in their country. The new regulations will discourage them from going abroad,” he said, criticising the move to introduce an additional paper. A Mahendran, managing director of Foreign Students Study Centre in Trichy, said it was unfair to fix a two-year limit.

Rs 600 per dose for states, Rs 1200 to private hospitals: Bharat Biotech releases rates for Covaxin

Rs 600 per dose for states, Rs 1200 to private hospitals: Bharat Biotech releases rates for Covaxin

The company justified the price, viewed as steep by many, by saying that Covaxin is an inactivated and highly purified vaccine, making manufacturing expensive due to very low process yield.

Published: 24th April 2021 10:50 PM 

A health official shows Covaxin dose. (File photo| Shekhar Yadav, EPS)

By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech on Saturday announced that its COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin will cost Rs 600 per dose to state governments and Rs 1200 per dose to private hospitals, two days after its competitor Serum Institute of India declared the rate of Covishield for non-central government channels.

Covaxin and Covishield are currently two available vaccines for COVID-19 in India.

SII had said that Covishield will be available to states at Rs 400 per dose and private hospitals at Rs 600 per dose which led to huge criticism as the company has hinted earlier that it was generating normal profit even at Rs 150 per dose, at which it has been supplying the vaccine to the Centre.

In a statement, Bharat Biotech, which has developed Covaxin in collaboration with ICMR's National Institute of Virology said that the company is "honoured to develop, manufacture and supply the vaccine for India’s vaccine rollout at Rs 150 per dose", which is distributed for free by the Centre.

"We would like to state that more than 50 per cent of our capacities have been reserved for Central government supplies," it said adding that the vaccine has a distinct feature of having a 28 day open vial policy. Once opened, the vaccine can be stored at 2-8 degree Celsius for 28 days thereby reducing the wastage.

The announcement comes days after the company, along with ICMR, issued a press release saying that the second interim analysis of the phase-3 clinical trial of the vaccine had shown it to be 78 per cent effective against infection and 100 per cent effective against severe disease.

The company also justified the price, viewed as steep by many, by saying that Covaxin is an inactivated and highly purified vaccine, making manufacturing expensive due to very low process yield. "All costs towards product development, manufacturing facilities and clinical trials were deployed primarily using internal funding and resources of Bharat Biotech," said the company.

It also said that "recovering costs is essential in the journey of innovation towards other vaccine such as intranasal COVID-19, Zika, Chikungunya, Cholera and others".

50 percent of COVID patients in Tamil Nadu are in home quarantine, says top health official

50 percent of COVID patients in Tamil Nadu are in home quarantine, says top health official

“Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms must get themselves screened at the Corporation screening centre. They would be guided on admission or home quarantine from here,” said Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan

Published: 24th April 2021 06:18 PM 

A health worker taking a patient suspected to have infected with Covid, for testing at KMC, in Chennai, on Friday | P Jawahar

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: About 50 percent of COVID-19 patients in Tamil Nadu are in home quarantine, Health Secretary Dr J Radhakrishnan said on Saturday.

Addressing reporters, he said 50.8 percent of COVID-19 patients are in home quarantine and 8.85 percent patients are in COVID-19 care centers, while 25.8 percent are at hospitals and the remaining comprise daily discharge and admissions.

“Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms must get themselves screened at the Corporation screening centre for X-ray and blood profile. They would be guided on admission or home quarantine from here,” said Radhakrishnan.

He said that if people have severe symptoms, they can call the 108 ambulances or call 044-46122300/044-25384520 for assistance to get admitted to a hospital.

“If large numbers of people come to hospitals without symptoms, it will give the wrong impression that hospitals are crowded. Hospitals must be reserved only for those needing oxygen. This will be determined at the screening centres,” said Radhakrishnan.

Radhakrishnan also said it was worrying to hear of patients self-medicating themselves with drugs at their homes.

“I have learned that people are injecting themselves with Remdesivir or Tocilizumab at their homes. Leave the judgment of who needs these drugs to doctors and do not indulge in self-medication,” said Radhakrishnan.

The health secretary said that 363 additional doctors have been added to the present strength of doctors to fight COVID-19.

“Only if we stop the COVID-19 chain will crowds not gather at government hospitals,” he pointed out.

Radhakrishnan said that the oxygen capacity in the state is adequate and the government also regularly requests the Centre to fill up vaccine stock.

Surge in COVID-19 cases sparks fears among government employees in Chennai

Surge in COVID-19 cases sparks fears among government employees in Chennai

Already, many top government officials have tested positive but they have continued with their work.

Published: 24th April 2021 05:49 PM 

A health worker collecting swab samples in Chennai | Ashwin Prasath

By C Shivakumar

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The rapid rise in COVID-19 cases across the state has worried government employees who fear they could contract the virus during work. Already, many top government officials have tested positive but they have continued with their work.

With the Chennai Corporation warning of a massive spurt in cases next month, many employees have urged their department heads to conduct RT-PCR tests for them.

It is learnt that some departments like Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority have yielded to the request and tested a total of 164 employees for COVID-19. This also comes after some employees tested positive a few days ago.

A Chennai Corporation official told The New Indian Express that they took a sample of 64 employees on Thursday and 100 employees on Friday. "Five of them have tested positive," said the official. The employees have been home quarantined

The tests were conducted after some employees were found to be positive for the virus sparking fear among other workers. It is learnt that the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority Welfare Association put up a plea before the officials to conduct a test of its employees before undertaking a massive inoculation programme of the department.

The Chennai Corporation said they will be conducting camps to vaccinate all employees. Meanwhile, sources told The New Indian Express that CMDA has not given any relaxations for its employees despite the rise in COVID-19 cases. The fear of getting infected comes as CMDA has not restricted outsiders coming to the office.

"Outsiders who come for planning approvals or raising minor queries are putting the employees at risk. There is no shield or glass, so the employees are vulnerable in contracting the virus, which is airborne," said one of the association member. He demanded that CMDA come out with restrictions on outsiders coming to office and conduct the entire work through online mode.

However, official sources said that cutting down the strength in state government offices is not a feasible option. "With counting for the elections around the corner and cases rising, it will be difficult to run with half the strength," the official said. The other issue which government organisations face is who will be among the 50 per cent excused from work. "This will cause a lot of heartburn among employees," said the official.

Meanwhile, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited's Chennai Telephones is preparing for any eventuality including lockdown like measures following the rapid rise in cases across Chennai. V K Sanjeevi, chief general manager of Chennai Telephones, told The New Indian Express that some employees have tested positive but since telecommunications is an essential service, there is no restriction on work.

However, administrative meetings are not taking place. We conduct virtual meetings. It is learnt that once the vaccination for all begins from May 1, it will be mandatory for all BSNL employees to get vaccinated. "We don't want people to be put at risk," said Sanjeevi. It is learnt that BSNL is tying up with Chennai Corporation to vaccinate all its staff.

Chennai lockdown: Home nurses, caretakers confused about work commute

Chennai lockdown: Home nurses, caretakers confused about work commute

Officials said that permissions for caretakers to commute can be sought from the local corporation office or police stations.

Published: 24th April 2021 09:13 PM 

By Sushmitha Ramakrishnan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: With the first full lockdown on Sunday, senior citizens, disabled persons, and others who require nurses or attenders to provide home-based care are confused if their caretakers will be allowed to

commute during the day.

Officials said that permissions for caretakers to commute can be sought from the local corporation office or police stations.

Last year, when Chennai went under complete lockdown, the city corporation had issued passes to these caretakers. However, no such official announcement has been made to issue special passes to caretakers this year.

R Bala, an 86-year-old woman from Adyar, told The New Indian Express that she has hired a nurse and a cook who she depends on. "I live alone and I cannot cook for myself. I need assistance to even move around the house. I don't know how I'll manage without them on Sunday," she said adding that she cannot travel to the local authorities either.

Renuka, a caretaker living in Saidapet, travels to T Nagar every day. She takes care of a 74-year woman who is bedridden and immobile. "There is no public transport. I will have to ask my husband to drop me off there. I don't know what I will say if the police stop us," she said.

Speaking to Express, a senior official from the city corporation said while the authorities have not made any provision for special passes yet, people can independently seek permission from the local police station or corporation office. "Last year, a lot of people came to us asking for passes. So we issued them. Till then people can simply get permission from the authorities nearby," the official said.

The nurses who have their identity cards will be allowed to commute if they simply produce it, he added.

BU staff demands total shutdown of varsity amid Covid-19 rise

BU staff demands total shutdown of varsity amid Covid-19 rise

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal:25.04.2021 

After several staffers in Barkatullah University tested positive, the employees of thevarsity havedemanded that the premises be shut down. As many as five employees have lost their lives to the pandemic, while five teaching and eight non-teaching staff have tested positive for Covid.

Registrar HS Tripathi confirmed to TOI that five employees of the Barkatullah University have lost their lives to Covid. “It is true that employees are in fear after witnessing five deaths in the varsity in such short span of time. We have issued Covid guidelines for the employees to avoid the infection,” he said.

Tripathi said, the university is running with 10% staff as per the guidelines. “Only the VCandIaregoing totheuniversity. In addition, employees of the accounts department are coming. Other works including teaching is completely stopped,” said Tripathi.

He added, “Accounts department has to come to issue thesalary andother imperative financial work. Their presence is important.”

Microsleep and micronap: Know the difference

Microsleep and micronap: Know the difference

Microsleep

When you fall asleep briefly for a few seconds and sometimes you don’t even notice it. It can occur at any time and can be dangerous if you’re driving, for example. Microsleep is a clear indication you need more shuteye.

Micronap

This is a type of power nap where you sleep, or just relax with your eyes closed for a few minutes after which you feel refreshed and can tackle your next task. You can do this every day to give yourself an extra boost.

— DAILY MIRROR