TN reports 23,310 new cases of Covid-19; 6,291 in Chennai

TN reports 23,310 new cases of Covid-19; 6,291 in Chennai

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:06.05.2021

All districts in the state reported more than 100 cases on Wednesday, when Tamil Nadu added167 deaths and 23,310 new Covid-19 cases. This is the highest number of cases and deaths reported by the state since the beginning of the pandemic.

There were 1,28,311 patients in the active registry after hospitals discharged 20,062 patients. The case tally since March 2020 moved to 12.7 lakh and the cumulative death toll touched 14,779.

While hotspot Chennai reported 6,291 new cases (the highest in the state), Ariyalur and Perambalur -- the two districts that were reported fewer than 50 cases a day so far -- reported 112 and 114 cases respectively (the lowest ) on Wednesday. With 2,029 new cases Coimbatore, reported the highest number of cases after Chennai. There were 1755 new cases in Chengalpet and 1385 cases in Tiruvallur. Madurai reported 914 cases.

Overall at least 20 districts reported deaths. Chennai reported 58 deaths – also the maximum in the state, and Chengalpet district followed with 10. This included 10 from the Chengalpet Medical College and Hospital but these excluded the 13 deaths reported between Tuesday and Wednesday following dip in oxygen was not reported in the media bulletin. While Kanyakumari, Ranipet and Madurai reported two deaths each, Salem reported seven and Vellore reported six.

Health department officials said that the centre has still not revised the 280 MT of oxygen allotted to the state although the state’s requirement has increased to 420MT. The state has a capacity of producing 400 MT and has been drawing about 50MT from Puducherry and diverting another 50MT from industries, officials said. “We are pushing the centre to increase allocation to the state. This is something they agreed to do more than a week ago,” a senior official said.

While there were 52,992 active cases in the Chennai region, the other districts in the north reported 1874 new cases. The eight districts in the west together had 25634 active cases followed by 24054 cases in the South. The central region together reported 2,226 cases. Deaths in all the four zone have also gone up –north districts together had 107 deaths while south reported 27, West had 12 and Central districts together logged 27. Meanwhile, 56203 people took the vaccine on Wednesday. The daily vaccinations have been steadily coming down despite increase in cases.

Stalin bats for more Covid-19 beds in pvt hospitals

Stalin bats for more Covid-19 beds in pvt hospitals

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:06.05.2021

DMK president and chief minister- designate M K Stalin on Wednesday appealed to private hospitals in Tamil Nadu to increase bed facilities to treat Covid-19 patients.

At present, private hospitals have allocated 50% of the beds exclusively for Covid-19 treatment. “Since it is a medical emergency, I request private hospitals to add more beds and consider subsidizing the Covid-19 treatment cost,” Stalin said in a statement.

Stalin noted that he had suggested to the chief secretary that a war room be established for better coordination. It would be helpful in monitoring and maintaining the availability of beds, oxygen, and vaccines in all districts.

He applauded frontline workers for their “massive service” for the community.

How a nightmare unfolded at midnight

How a nightmare unfolded at midnight

There Were Not Enough Docs, Nurses To Save Everyone

Pushpa Narayan & Ram Sundaram TNN

Chennai:06.05.2021

Did the authorities at the Chengalpet Medical College Hospital ignore warning signs? Eleven patients died within two hours after the volume of oxygen flowing in the pipelines fell from about 70 litres per minute to 10 litres per minute after midnight on Wednesday.

“It was something that we had warned the management about,” said a duty doctor, a postgraduate medical student. “Oxygen supply had dipped on Tuesday afternoon and two people died,” the doctor said.

The hospital, which had more than 300 patients on oxygen support in Covid-19 and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection wards, consumes an average of 4.2 kilolitres (KL) of oxygen a day. Dean Dr J Muthukumaran said the hospital filled up about 4 kilolitres of oxygen on Tuesday evening, two hours after he received the first complaint. The hospital has five oxygen tanks —two of 10-KL capacity and three 1-KL tanks.

“Our biomedical engineers replaced a coil near the main valve, which created trouble a week ago. It was replaced with a temporary coil (with the help of oxygen manufacturer INOX) to maintain the pressure levels. Ever since the substitute coil was installed, oxygen consumption almost doubled even when the patient count was almost the same. So, we had to refill the main oxygen tank much more frequently,” he said.

On Tuesday, there were no problems once the tank was refilled, but things went horribly wrong by midnight, when the pressure dropped once again.

Patient attenders cried for help in vain. In the children’s ward, doctors and nurses pulled out ambu bags – handheld devices commonly used to provide positive pressure ventilation – to save their tiny patients. In other wards, technicians dragged oxygen cylinders to bedsides.

But there were too many patients and too few healthcare providers. For instance, in the comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care ward there were 150 patients including pregnant women and new mothers. This ward had two doctors, two nurses and one technician. The neighboring admin block with more than 200 patients had four doctors, two nurses and two technicians. “When patients choked, there was chaos. Their relatives panicked. Some threatened us even as we were running between beds to save patients,” said a doctor.

“An investigation will be carried out and action will be taken against those who were responsible for the technical fault,” said collector John Louis.

By Wednesday afternoon, director of medical education Dr R Narayanababu, who led the inspection team, said there was “no oxygen shortage”.

In Salem, three Covid-19 patients die in ambulances

In Salem, three Covid-19 patients die in ambulances

Senthil.Kumaran@timesgroup.com

Salem:06.05.2021

Three Covid-19 patients died while undergoing treatment in ambulances parked on the premises of Salem Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital (SGMKMCH) on Tuesday night.

Doctors said they did not have sufficient beds to treat the patients, due to which they had treated them in ambulances that brought them to SGMKMCH from private hospitals.

The deceased were a 30-year-old woman and two men aged 42 and 45, who had comorbidities. “They died in the ambulances not responding to treatment,” SGMKMCH dean R Murugesan told TOI. “They were brought at the eleventh hour after their condition became critical.”

Of the 800 beds in SGMKMCH, 550 are oxygenequipped, Murugesan said. “At least 500 new cases are reported from the district every day. We also get patients from neighbouring districts. We can’t accommodate everyone. We have taken steps to set up an additional 200 oxygenequipped beds.”

Critically ill patients from Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Kallakurichi, Villupuram and Tiruvannamalai are referred to SGMKMCH, which is a multispecialty hospital. “We try our best to take care of all Covid-19 patients,” Murugesan said.

Following the deaths, the hospital management set up a monitoring committee consisting of Dr Sureshkanna, Dr Pon A Rajarajan, Dr P Kannan, Dr T Sampathkumar and Dr Nagarajan. “The five-member committee will monitor oxygen usage, audit deaths and give suitable advice to the floor monitoring committee,” the dean added.

Meanwhile, a senior doctor at SGMKMCH said primary health centres and government hospitals are referring Covid-19 patients with mild complications.

WAITING FOR THEIR TURN: Ambulances lined up at the Salem Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital on Wednesday

'No more' PILs from Traffic Ramaswamy at Madras High Court

'No more' PILs from Traffic Ramaswamy at Madras High Court

Traffic Ramaswamy was a familiar figure at the Madras High Court, often spotted clad in his trademark white shirt and khaki trousers, darting between courts, his Personal Security Officer in tow.

Published: 05th May 2021 12:02 AM 

Traffic Ramaswamy (Photo | EPS)

By Harish Murali

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Prakasam Salai road in the buzzling Parry's locality that housed the office cum residence of Traffic Ramaswamy will no longer be the same after the passing of the social activist at age 87. The High Court premises neighbouring his office was a frequent visiting point for Ramaswamy.

Traffic Ramaswamy was a familiar figure at the Madras High Court, often spotted clad in his trademark white shirt and khaki trousers, darting between courts, his Personal Security Officer in tow.

S Ganesan, a long time associate and advocate for the hundreds of Public Interest Litigation petitions filed by the crusader since the early 2000s, recalled the 2002 incident that spurred Ramaswamy to regularly file cases of public interest.

"He had filed a PIL to regulate fish carts and a section of fish cart owners beat him up and left him bleeding on the road. The then Chief Justice of the Madras High Court Subhashan Reddy in 2003 provided him with a personal security officer," he emphasised.

Since then there has been no turning back for the activist who took up several cases of public interest in Chennai.

Ganesan recalls that there was an instance where Ramaswamy attended the wedding of a close friend's son, however, the moment he saw posters outside on the road leading towards the marriage hall, he left the place without attending the function. He later called up his friend and informed him that the posters were erected illegally and that it was a violation.

"Nothing bogged down the activist, even the several contempt charges he had faced in court," says Ganesan.

In 2014, Ramaswamy was imposed with a Rs 25,000 fine by a division bench of the Madras High Court for filing a vague PIL stating that party functionaries who swore allegiance to criminals cannot form the government.

On most of the occasions, Ramaswamy's PILs were dismissed by the court which found them vague.

However, the octogenarian kept filing them, with the most recent one being a PIL filed against the use of unregistered battery-run cars by the Chennai corporation for collecting garbage.

Following the court direction, all the vehicles were then registered and brought under the Regional Transport Authority for compliance.

Just in the last week of April, the Madras High Court ordered the Chennai corporation to file a report on GNT road encroachments after a PIL by Ramaswamy. Unfortunately the activist will no longer be a witness to its proceedings.

ICMR: Do away with must RT-PCR test for inter-state travel

ICMR: Do away with must RT-PCR test for inter-state travel

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:05.05.2021 

The Indian Council for Medical Research in its advisory for Covid-19 testing during the second wave of the pandemic has recommended that the need for RT-PCR test in healthy individuals undertaking inter-state domestic travel may be completely removed to reduce the load on laboratories. As part of the measures to optimise RT-PCR testing, ICMR advisory makes it clear that the test must not be repeated in any individual who has tested positive once either by RAT or RT-PCR. Also no testing is required for Covid-19 recovered individuals at the time of hospital discharge in accordance with the discharge policy of the ministry of health and family welfare.

The advisory emphasises that non-essential travel and interstate travel of symptomatic individuals (Covid-19 or flu like symptoms) should be essentially avoided to reduce the risk of infection and all asymptomatic individuals undertaking essential travel must follow Covid appropriate behaviour.

It pointed out that mobile testing laboratories are now available on GeM portal and states must augment RT-PCR testing through mobile systems. “To meet the overwhelming testing demand, it will be prudent to upscale testing using Rapid Antigen Tests,” the advisory recommends.

Explaining the need for a detailed advisory on testing for Covid-19, ICMR cites the “unprecedented upsurge of Covid-19 cases and deaths currently being witnessed across India”. The overall nationwide test positivity rate is above 20%. In this backdrop testing-tracking-tracing, isolation and home-based treatment of positive patients is the key measure to curb transmission of SARSCoV-2. As of today, India has a total of 2,506 molecular testing laboratories including RTPCR, True-Nat, CBNAAT and other platforms. The total daily national testing capacity is close to15 lakh tests considering a three- shift operationalisation of the existing laboratory network.

As US travel ban kicks in, families are sundered and study plans disrupted

As US travel ban kicks in, families are sundered and study plans disrupted

Those Stranded Sign Petition Seeking Exemption For Non-Immigrants

Chidanand.Rajghatta@timesgroup.com

Washington:  05.05.2021 

Pankaj Patil lost his father, a retired government official in Nashik, to Covid-19 on April 2. He rushed home from US, where he works as an IT professional on an H-1B visa, to be with his mother. With his wife Kavita expecting their second child at their home in Connecticut, Pankaj, with all his work and travel papers in order, hoped to take his mother back with him to help navigate what doctors have said would a high-risk pregnancy because of high sugar and thyroid fluctuation. On April 30, just before Pankaj was to travel back to his wife and sixyear old daughter Aarushi, the Biden administration announced restrictions on travel from India to contain Covid-19 variants from entering the US.

As the travel ban kicked in at midnight on May 4, the family and professional life of thousands like Pankaj Patil have been sundered and disrupted. Husbands and wives, mothers and fathers separated from each other and from their children; jobs, careers, and mortgages jeopardised, and schooling thrown out of whack. “Many of us travelled to India for family emergencies in light of the pandemic, some to say their final goodbyes to parents, grandparents, and loved ones. Our visa appointments got cancelled without much notice, some even on the day off with no support or preference on rescheduling of those appointments. We are now stuck in India indefinitely, separated from spouses, children, families and community,” they pleaded in a petition to President Biden, signed by Patil and more than 4,000 affected people, seeking a travel ban exemption for non-immigrant (H-1B/H4/L1/L2) visa holders, with similar provisions that have been extended to international students, Green Card holders, and US citizens travelling from India: a negative RTPCR test, 14-day quarantine, and vaccination proof.

Indeed, many immigration advocates and lawyers back their pleas, pointing out the fallacy of banning non-immigrant professionals from India who may be vaccinated and have tested negative for the virus while allowing students, green card holders and citizens from across the world who could be carrying the virus. “Isn’t it better to ensure that travellers to US are vaccinated and/or test negative and quarantine?” asks New York-based immigration attorney Cyrus Mehta, adding the ban is disproportionately affecting professionals from India and the “virus does not know the difference” between citizens and non-immigrants.

Payal Raj and her daughter came to India from Tennessee on April 6 to see their family, hoping also to revalidate their visas during their stay after her husband joined them on April 16. Two days after Payal landed in Patna, her parents, brother, and sister developed Covid symptoms, forcing her to check into a hotel with her daughter. Already vaccinated in the US, the family flew to Delhi for a scheduled Dropbox appointment at the US embassy on April 20, armed with negative Covid results. The visa officer accepted the passport of her husband (on a H-1B visa) and her daughter, but Payal, who is on an H4 dependent visa, was left behind. “I wake up in the middle of the night in sweats thinking when and if ever I will be able to go back,” says Payal, adding that her husband is having to give melatonin to their anxious nineyear old daughter so she can get some sleep.

The travel restriction has also disrupted the plans of many senior citizens. Mumbai’s Prakash Nanavati and his wife had planned to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with their son in the Bay Area, while also attending their grand daughter’s graduation ceremony. Vaccinated and armed with negative test results, and with a 10-year visa on hand, they had booked their tickets for May16, but the travel ban has scuppered their plans.

Also on tenterhooks are thousands of students from India. While the US embassy in New Delhi reiterated on Tuesday that student visa holders would be able to enter the US if their classes start on or after August 1, 2021, it urged those whose start date is before August 1, some of whom have graduated and have lined up internships, to “contact your respective educational institutions to discuss options.” “I am a part of critical infrastructure sector (pharmaceuticals) which is eligible for NIE (National Interest Exemption) as per presidential proclamation. I am working and assisting directly in development & manufacturing of oncology & neuroscience drugs. My NIE was refused because I am on F1 visa, stem OPT,” wrote back one student. Scores of professionals, students, and interns are writing to the US missions urging travel exemptions for those who are vaccinated. Their pleas are lost in the din of a greater tragedy unfolding across India.

Many immigration advocates and lawyers back the pleas of those stranded, pointing out the fallacy of banning non-immigrant professionals from India who may be vaccinated and have tested negative for the virus while allowing students, green card holders and citizens from across the world who could be carrying the virus

Oz says chance of jail remote for India travel ban offenders

Australian PM Scott Morrison, under pressure to overturn rules barring travel from -ravaged India, said on Tuesday it was “highly unlikely” travellers would face maximum penalties of five years jail and a A$66,000 ($51,000) fine. Australia last week banned all travellers from India, including its own citizens, from entering the country until May 15. The temporary restrictions have been excoriated by lawmakers, expatriates and the Indian diaspora. “I don’t think it would be fair to suggest these penalties in their most extreme forms are likely to be placed anywhere, but this is a way to ensure we can prevent the virus coming back,” Morrison told local broadcaster Channel Nine. The rules would be used “responsibly and proportionately” but were needed.

Former Australia cricket player Michael Slater, who was working in India as a commentator for the Indian Premier League, lambasted the Australian government for the travel ban. “Blood on your hands PM. How dare you treat us like this. How about you sort out quarantine system,” Slater said in a tweet. Morrison dismissed Slater’s comments as “absurd”. Repatriation flights from India may resume as planned by May 15, the PM said, as the government looks to more than double the capacity in a quarantine facility in the Northern Territory by the middle of this month. REUTERS

Two Positives Can Still Make A Negative

THE SPEAKING TREE A SHOT OF HOPE

Two Positives Can Still Make A Negative

Ramesh Bijlani

05.05.2021 

To be found Covid-positive spells fear, panic, isolation and depression – everything negative. A positive attracting something negative is not inevitable. But before that, let us see what being Covid-positive means.

Suppose we devise a test that detects the presence of food in the mouth. The sensitivity of the test is such that the result is positive in anybody who has had a meal within the last one hour. Since we have three meals a day, in tests done at random throughout the day, about one-third of the population will test positive. It does not mean that the two-third who test negative do not eat. It only means they probably took a meal more than an hour ago. Our test is not sensitive enough to pick them up. Further, some ‘sensible’ people would have rinsed the mouth immediately after the meal. They will test negative even ten minutes after a meal – these will be our false negatives. On the other hand, some people who have taken only a sugary drink will test positive, although they have not taken a meal – these will be our false positives.

In the current context, we are all breathing air which has some coronavirus. The only way to breathe air which has no coronavirus at all is to stop breathing! Therefore, to test positive is no surprise. Up to a point, the body’s in-built mechanisms can deal with the virus, and we will not get sick. The crucial point is that these defence mechanisms are weakened by fear and depression; conversely, they are strengthened by peace and hope.

Hence, there is a place for relaxation techniques. The techniques only create the right atmosphere for a process.

The process facilitated by relaxation techniques consists of developing a new perspective, creating the foundation for unshakable peace, and thereby letting prana, the life-force, do its job.

The new perspective is that ‘all stress’, including Covid-positivity, is sent to us by a Higher Force to guide us towards greater harmony with our surroundings based on love and oneness. This higher, wider and deeper perspective suspends questions such as ‘Why me? Will I die? What will happen to my near and dear ones?’ These questions, which create noise in the mind without solving any issue, get terminated temporarily by relaxation techniques, thereby creating a small window of silence for the new perspective to start taking shape.

The new perspective leads to peaceful acceptance of all eventualities. Since the peace is based on a high, wide and deep foundation, it is unshakable. Unshakable peace lets the life-force deal with the infection to the best of its ability. But even its best may not be good enough to always save us from death. However, as Sri Aurobindo told us, the skills of the Divine exceed those of a million doctors. Thus, being Covidpositive can initiate a positive process, which in turn can negate all fear, including the fear of death.

The writer, once a professor at AIIMS, New Delhi, is now a spiritual seeker at Sri Aurobindo Ashram – Delhi branch.

For hope in the time of Covid-19, send your questions to spiritual masters, scan the QR Code or visit https://bit.ly/3eGSfvo

கரோனா சிகிச்சை; சேலம் அரசு மருத்துவமனையில் உடனுக்குடன் படுக்கை கிடைக்காத நிலை

கரோனா சிகிச்சை; சேலம் அரசு மருத்துவமனையில் உடனுக்குடன் படுக்கை கிடைக்காத நிலை

சீனிவாசன்

Published : 04 May 2021 21:02 pm

Updated : 04 May 2021 21:02 pm

சேலம் அரசு மோகன் குமாரமங்கலம் மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி மருத்துவமனையில் உள்ள கரோனா அவசர சிகிச்சைப் பிரிவு முன்பு அணிவகுத்து நின்ற ஆம்புலன்ஸ்கள்.

சேலம்

கரோனா தொற்றினால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டு, சேலம் அரசு மருத்துவமனைக்கு சிகிச்சைக்காக வருபவர்களின் எண்ணிக்கை அதிகரித்துள்ளதால், நோயாளிகளுக்கு உடனுக்குடன் மருத்துவமனையில் படுக்கை வசதி கிடைக்காத நிலை ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது.

தமிழகத்தில் கரோனா தொற்றின் 2-ம் அலை வேகமாகப் பரவி வருகிறது. இதன் காரணமாக, சேலம் மாவட்டத்திலும் கரோனா தொற்றினால் தினமும் 500க்கும் மேற்பட்டவர்கள் பாதிக்கப்பட்டு வருகின்றனர். மேலும், தொற்றினால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டு உயிரிழப்பு எண்ணிக்கையும் தற்போது அதிகரித்துள்ளது.

இந்நிலையில், சேலம் அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி மருத்துவமனை, மேட்டூர் மாவட்ட அரசு தலைமை மருத்துவமனை, ஆத்தூர், பெத்தநாயக்கன் பாளையம், ஓமலூர் உள்ளிட்ட அரசு மருத்துவமனைகள், தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகள் ஆகியவற்றில் கரோனா வார்டுகளில் தொற்றினால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டோர் சிகிச்சைக்காக சேருவது அதிகரித்துவிட்டது.

குறிப்பாக, கரோனா தொற்றினால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டு சேலம் அரசு மருத்துவமனைக்கு சிகிச்சைக்காக வருபவர்களுக்கு, உடனுக்குடன் படுக்கை வசதி கிடைப்பதில்லை. இதனால், ஆம்புலன்ஸில் வரும் கரோனா நோயாளிகள், ஆம்புலன்ஸிலேயே காத்திருக்க வேண்டிய நிலை ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது.

இதுகுறித்து மருத்துவமனை அதிகாரிகள் கூறுகையில், "சேலம் அரசு மருத்துவமனையில் உள்ள 800 படுக்கைகளும் நிரம்பியதன் காரணமாக, புதிதாக வருபவர்களுக்கு உடனுக்குடன் படுக்கை வசதி அளிக்க முடிவதில்லை. சிகிச்சையில் குணமடைந்து நோயாளிகள் வெளியேறிய பின்னரே, புதிய நோயாளிகள் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டு வருகின்றனர்" என்றனர்.

The traffic-stopper is dead. No hoarding for him, please

The traffic-stopper is dead. No hoarding for him, please

Octogenarian Activist Traffic K R Ramaswamy Held Officials, Citizens Accountable For Their Actions

A.Subramani@timesgroup.com

05.05.2021

Dictionaries and thesauruses say the English word ‘traffic’ can be both noun and verb. In Tamil Nadu, particularly in judicial and activist circles, however, it is a proper noun referring to a man — Traffic K R Ramaswamy, aged 87.

It started as a hobby more than 30 years ago. Ramaswamy, then a mill worker, used to stand for hours at the Broadway signal in Chennai regulating traffic. He preened when motorists called him Traffic Ramaswamy. As the years went by, the moniker was shortened to Traffic.

In his trademark white shirt, with two pockets bulging with petitions, and khakhi trousers, clutching a case bundle in one hand and two mobiles in the other, Traffic was a permanent fixture at the Madras high court.

In 2018, a biopic titled ‘Traffic Ramaswamy’ was made with S A Chandrasekaran as the protagonist. When SAC met Traffic for permission to make the biopic, he set a price — ₹200. Traffic called it ‘seed money’.

Traffic’s activism focused on three problems — violation of road rules, encroachment of pavements and roads, and hoardings. You would never know which traffic signal he would take over or which encroachment he would pull down or which hoarding he would knife to tatters. If such direct action did not work, he would call the police — from the local sub-inspector to the commissioner of police, everyone would get SMSs or calls in a span of five minutes. If even that did not work, he would turn up at the Madras high court and file a plea. He’s filed at least 200 such PILs Traffic realised the power of the courts when he successfully challenged the Chennai police’s decision to convert the wide NSC Bose around the high court premises as a one-way. He accused police of settling for the easier option instead of regulating traffic. The other case which got him a lot of goodwill as well as threats was the fish-cart abolition case. Fish-carts, rickety, improvised goods-carriers powered by motorbike engines (most of them sourced from the local stolen goods market), were notorious for causing deadly accidents.

Traffic got them banned because they were never recognised as roadworthy vehicles in the law and, hence, accident victims never got any compensation. His battle against share-autorickshaws, also on the same legal premise, remains inconclusive.

Ramaswamy took on political bigwigs such as M Karunanidhi and J Jayalalithaa too, tearing down their posters and banners right outside their party offices and homes. To his credit, he got away with it.

He was a nightmare for encroachers — big and small — and owners of illegal buildings. His PIL on unauthorised buildings in T Nagar led to a series of judgments on enforcement of development control rules. Though the menace still exists, giant showrooms in Chennai’s shopping hub of T Nagar had to spend crores modifying buildings and introducing fire safety features.

In the Madras high court, Traffic commanded respect matched only by a few designated senior advocates. There was no bench that would not hear him. Of course, sometimes he would get a rap for either taking the law into his own hands or bringing up a political issue for which he is not known. He would trudge quietly out of the court hall on such occasions, only to waltz back in with a PIL on his pet topics the next day.

Hated by vendors occupying pavements, threatened by fishcart owners and physically intimidated by many lawyers, Traffic risked life and limb for the public cause. No wonder, then, he got an armed police security guard tailing him 24X7 for more than two decades.

A small-built man weighing about 40kg, Traffic got thinner and thinner over the last two decades. Hardly surprising as he never had a proper meal. “I enjoy these biscuits and tea more than unlimited full meals,” he would say, settling for snacks even during lunch. Curds, buttermilk, fruit juices, puffed rice, biscuits and tea were his diet. And, through all his field and court visits, he would uncomplainingly trudge around with a urine bag strapped to his body, necessitated by an ailment.

On Traffic’s unfinished agenda is removal of all places of worship encroaching public spaces and pavements. May be someone else will step forward to continue the fight. For Traffic used to often say: “How long can I alone run to every trouble spot, like a fire engine? Everyone coming across road violations and encroachments should take it up in their own way.”

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

Govt doctor arrested for selling Remdesivir in the black market

AT ₹20,000 A VIAL

Govt doctor arrested for selling Remdesivir in the black market

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:05.05.2021 

A government hospital doctor in Chennai and a pharmacist were arrested on Tuesday by Tamil Nadu civil supplies crime investigation department (CID) for selling Remdesivir in black market.

The duo was arrested during a routine vehicle inspection at Guindy. P Ramasundaram, 25, working with the governmentrun health centre King's Institute of Preventive Medicine and Hospital in Guindy, was found illegally carrying 12 vials of Remdesivir, which was meant for treatment of Covid-19 patients at the health centre.

His aide N Karthick, 27, who works as a pharmacist at Guindy hospital, confessed to the police that they sneaked the drug and sold it at ₹20,000 per vial to patients, who were in dire need at private hospitals, an official release from police stated. Karthick was in possession of another 12 vials at the time of arrest. Police seized all the 24 vials.

They were remanded in judicial custody, the release added. This was the first time government healthcare workers were booked for black marketing of Remdesivir. Last week, three private hospital doctors and pharma vendors were arrested in Chennai for similar crime.

All the accused have been booked under Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and various other sections of IPC.

There have been complaints about people buying Remdesivir from government counters at Kilpauk Medical College (KMC) Hospital for ₹1,568 per vial and later selling them in black.

Meanwhile, the queue at KMC Remdesivir counters is getting longer. Relatives of Covid-19 patients, who have travelled to Chennai from other districts, have been seen waiting for 8 to12 hours to get the drug.

Tamil Nadu health authorities said that they were selling roughly 1,500 to 2,000 vials per day .

மத்திய அரசு அலுவலகம் கட்டுப்பாடுகள் தொடரும்

மத்திய அரசு அலுவலகம் கட்டுப்பாடுகள் தொடரும்

Added : மே 04, 2021 22:13

புதுடில்லி  கொரோனா வைரஸ் பரவல் தீவிரமாக உள்ளதால், மத்திய அரசு அலுவலகங்களுக்கான மாற்றியமைக்கப்பட்ட வேலை நேரம், 50 சதவீத ஊழியர் மட்டுமே அனுமதி உள்ளிட்ட கட்டுப்பாடுகள், மாத இறுதி வரை நீட்டிக்கப்படுவதாக அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

கொரோனா வைரஸ் பரவல் அதிகமாக இருப்பதால், மத்திய அரசு அலுவலகங்களுக்கு பல கட்டுப்பாடுகள் விதிக்கப்பட்டன. 'ஊழியர்கள் மாறுபட்ட வேலை நேரங்களில் பணியாற்றலாம்; 50 சதவீத ஊழியர்கள் மட்டுமே அலுவலகம் வர வேண்டும்' என, அறிவிக்கப் பட்டு இருந்தது.'இந்தக் கட்டுப்பாடுகள்,இம்மாதம் இறுதி வரை நீட்டிக்கப்படுகிறது. அனைத்து துறைகளுக்கும் இது பொருந்தும்' என, மத்திய பணியாளர் துறை தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

கொரோனா பாதிப்பைவிட, அதனால் ஏற்பட்டுள்ள அச்சம், மிக அதிகமாக உள்ளது. இந்த நிலையில், ஐ.சி.எம்.ஆர்., எனப்படும், இந்திய மருத்துவ ஆராய்ச்சி கவுன்சில், புதிய வழிகாட்டியை வெளியிட்டுள்ளது.கொரோனா குறித்த அச்சத்தை நீக்கும் வகையில், 'எப்படி செயல்பட வேண்டும்' என, தொற்று ஏற்பட்டுள்ளோர், அவருடைய குடும்பத்தார், முன்கள பணியாளர்களுக்கு என, தனித்தனியாக, வழிகாட்டி நெறிமுறைகளை வெளியிட்டுள்ளது.

முதல்வரின் முதல் கையெழுத்து; அதிகரிக்கிறது எதிர்பார்ப்பு

முதல்வரின் முதல் கையெழுத்து; அதிகரிக்கிறது எதிர்பார்ப்பு

Updated : மே 05, 2021 05:15 | Added : மே 05, 2021 05:13 

சென்னை : முதல்வராக ஸ்டாலின் பதவி ஏற்றதும், எந்த திட்டத்தை செயல்படுத்த, முதல் கையெழுத்திடுவார் என்ற, எதிர்பார்ப்பு அதிகரித்துள்ளது.

தேர்தல் பிரசாரத்தில், தி.மு.க., பல்வேறு வாக்குறுதிகளை அளித்தது. அதில், குடும்ப தலைவிகளுக்கு மாதந்தோறும், 1,000 ரூபாய் உரிமைத் தொகை; கொரோனா ஊரடங்கால் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட மக்களுக்கு, ரேஷன் கடைகளில், ஜூன், 3ம் தேதி, 4,000 ரூபாய் உதவித்தொகை. காஸ் சிலிண்டருக்கு, 100 ரூபாய் மானியம்; எரிபொருள் விலை, 5 ரூபாய் வரை குறைப்பு; ஆவின் பால் லிட்டருக்கு, 3 ரூபாய் குறைப்பு; அரசு பஸ்களில் பெண்களுக்கு இலவச அனுமதி உள்ளிட்ட, பல்வேறு அறிவிப்புகள் இடம் பெற்றன.

இதுமட்டுமின்றி, ஒவ்வொரு தொகுதியிலும், பொது மக்களிடம் புகார் மனுக்களை ஸ்டாலின் வாங்கினார். ஆட்சி பொறுப்பேற்ற, 100 நாட்களில், இந்த மனுக்களுக்கு தீர்வு காணப்படும் என்ற வாக்குறுதியையும், ஸ்டாலின் அளித்துள்ளார். இந்நிலையில், தி.மு.க., தலைவர் ஸ்டாலின், வரும், 7ம் தேதி, முதல்வராக பதவி ஏற்கவுள்ளார். அதன்பின், தலைமை செயலகத்தில் உள்ள முதல்வரின் அறைக்கு சென்று, பணிகளை துவங்கவுள்ளார்.

அப்போது, தேர்தல் நேரத்தில் வாக்குறுதி அளித்தபடி, எந்த திட்டத்தை செயல்படுத்த, அவர் முதல் கையெழுத்திடுவார் என்ற எதிர்பார்ப்பு, தி.மு.க.,வினர் மட்டுமின்றி, பொது மக்கள் மத்தியிலும் அதிகரித்துள்ளது. குடும்ப தலைவிகளுக்கு மாதம், 1,000 ரூபாய் உரிமைத் தொகை, இலவச பஸ் பயண அனுமதி ஆகிய திட்டத்தை செயல்படுத்த, அவர் முதல் கையெழுத்திட, அதிக வாய்ப்பிருப்பதாக கூறப்படுகிறது.

நர்ஸ் மகளுக்கு கருணை பணி பரிசீலிக்க ஐகோர்ட் உத்தரவு

நர்ஸ் மகளுக்கு கருணை பணி பரிசீலிக்க ஐகோர்ட் உத்தரவு

Added : மே 04, 2021 00:37

மதுரை:அரசு ஆரம்ப சுகாதார நிலைய நர்ஸ் கொலை செய்யப்பட்டதால், ஆதரவற்ற நிலையில் உள்ள மகள், கருணைப் பணி நியமனம் கோரியதில், தமிழக அரசு பரிசீலிக்க, உயர் நீதிமன்ற மதுரைக் கிளை உத்தரவிட்டது.

விருதுநகர் மாவட்டம், சிவகாசி அருகே, எம்.புதுப்பட்டி அரசு ஆரம்ப சுகாதார நிலைய நர்ஸாக பணிபுரிந்தவர் முருகேஸ்வரி. இவரை, 2006ல் அவரது கணவர் கொலை செய்து, ஆயுள் கைதியாக சிறையில் உள்ளார்.கருணைப் பணி நியமனம் கோரி, முருகேஸ்வரியின் மகள் கீதாஞ்சலி, தமிழக அரசுக்கு விண்ணப்பித்தார். பரிசீலிக்க உத்தரவிடக் கோரி, உயர் நீதிமன்றக் கிளையில் மனு தாக்கல் செய்தார்.

தனி நீதிபதி தள்ளுபடி செய்தார். இதை எதிர்த்து, கீதாஞ்சலி மேல்முறையீடு செய்தார். நீதிபதிகள் டி.எஸ்.சிவஞானம், எஸ்.ஆனந்தி அமர்வு விசாரித்தது.சுகாதாரத் துறை தரப்பு, 'மனுதாரரின் தாய் இறந்த மூன்று ஆண்டுகளுக்கு பின், பணிக்கு விண்ணப்பிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இம்மனு ஏற்புடையதல்ல' என தெரிவித்தது.

மனுதாரர் தரப்பு, 'இதை விசித்திரமான வழக்காக கருதி, பரிசீலிக்க வேண்டும். மனுதாரரை விட்டு, அவரது சகோதரர் வெளியேறி விட்டார். எங்கு உள்ளார் என தெரியவில்லை' என தெரிவித்தது.நீதிபதிகள் உத்தரவு:தாய் இறந்தபோது, மனுதாரருக்கு வயது 11. அவர் பணிக் குரிய வயதை, 2013ல் அடைந்துள்ளார். மனுதாரர், அவரது சகோதரர் ஆகியோர் ஆதரவற்ற நிலையில் உள்ளனர். தனி நீதிபதியின் உத்தரவு ரத்து செய்யப்படுகிறது.

மனுதாரர் மீண்டும் ஆவணங்களுடன், அரசிடம் மனு அளிக்க வேண்டும். அதை, பொது சுகாதாரம் மற்றும் நோய் தடுப்பு மருந்து இயக்கக இயக்குனர், தகுதி அடிப்படையில் பரிசீலித்து, இரண்டு மாதங்களில் உத்தரவு பிறப்பிக்க வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு நீதிபதிகள் உத்தரவிட்டனர்.

ரூ. 4,000 கொரோனா நிவாரணம் கேட்டு ரேஷன் கடைகளுக்கு படையெடுப்பு

ரூ. 4,000 கொரோனா நிவாரணம் கேட்டு ரேஷன் கடைகளுக்கு படையெடுப்பு

Added : மே 03, 2021 23:07

சென்னை:சட்டசபை தேர்தலில் வெற்றி பெற்றதால், தி.மு.க., தேர்தல் அறிக்கையில் தெரிவித்தபடி, 4,000 ரூபாய் கொரோனா நிவாரண தொகையை கேட்டு, கார்டுதாரர்கள் ரேஷன் கடைகளுக்கு படையெடுக்க துவங்கியுள்ளனர்.

நாடு முழுதும், கொரோனா வைரஸ் பரவலை தடுக்க, 2020 மார்ச் இறுதியில் ஊரடங்கு அமல்படுத்தப்பட்டதால், மக்களின் வாழ்வாதாரம் பாதிக்கப்பட்டது. இதையடுத்து, முதல்வராக இருந்த இ.பி.எஸ்., உத்தரவில், அந்த ஆண்டு ஏப்ரலில், அரிசி ரேஷன் கார்டுதாரர்களுக்கு, கொரோனா ஊரடங்கு தடுப்பு கால நிவாரணமாக, தலா, 1,000 ரூபாய் வழங்கப்பட்டது.சட்டசபை தேர்தலை முன்னிட்டு, தி.மு.க., தேர்தல் அறிக்கையில், 'கொரோனா தொற்று காலத்தில் வாழ்வாதாரம் இழந்து தவித்த, அரிசி கார்டு வைத்துள்ள குடும்பங்களுக்கு நிவாரண தொகையாக, 4,000 ரூபாய் வழங்கப்படும்' என, வாக்குறுதி அளிக்கப்பட்டது.

தேர்தல் பிரசாரத்தின் போது, தி.மு.க.,வினர், வாக்காளர்களை கவர, நிவாரண தொகை வழங்குவதாக கூறி, தாங்களே அச்சிட்ட, 'டோக்கன்'களை வழங்கினர். ஓட்டுப்பதிவு முடிந்த மறுநாளே, அந்த டோக்கனை ரேஷன் கடைகளுக்கு எடுத்து சென்று, கார்டுதாரர்கள், நிவாரண தொகை கேட்டனர்.அவர்களிடம், 'தி.மு.க., ஆட்சிக்கு வந்தால் தான் நிவாரண தொகை கிடைக்கும்; தற்போது கிடையாது' எனக்கூறி, ரேஷன் ஊழியர்கள் திருப்பி அனுப்பினர்.

ஓட்டு எண்ணிக்கையில், தி.மு.க., தனி பெரும்பான்மையுடன் வெற்றி பெற்று, ஆட்சி அமைக்க உள்ளது. இதையடுத்து, நேற்று ரேஷன் கடைகளுக்கு சென்று, கார்டுதாரர்கள், 4,000 ரூபாய் நிவாரணம் வழங்குமாறு கேட்டனர்.இது குறித்து, கடை ஊழியர்கள் கூறுகையில், 'ரேஷன் கடைகளுக்கு வந்த கார்டுதாரர்கள், 4,000 ரூபாய் கொரோனா நிவாரண தொகை வழங்குமாறு கேட்டனர்.'ஸ்டாலின் முதல்வராக பொறுப்பேற்றதும், விரைவில் நிவாரண தொகை வழங்கப்படும் எனக்கூறி, அவர்களை திருப்பி அனுப்பினோம்' என்றனர்.

கொரோனா தடுப்பு மருத்துவ பணியாளர்களுக்கு அரசு வேலைவாய்ப்பில் முன்னுரிமை

கொரோனா தடுப்பு மருத்துவ பணியாளர்களுக்கு அரசு வேலைவாய்ப்பில் முன்னுரிமை

Updated : மே 04, 2021 07:21 | Added : மே 04, 2021 07:20

புதுடில்லி: 'கொரோனா தொற்றை தடுக்கும் மருத்துவப் பணிகளில், 100 நாட்கள் வரையில் ஈடுபட்டிருந்தவர்களுக்கு, வருங்காலங்களில், அரசு பணி வேலைவாய்ப்புகளின்போது, முன்னுரிமை வழங்கப்படும்' என, மத்திய அரசு அறிவித்துள்ளது.

பிரதமர் அலுவலகம் வெளியிட்டுள்ள அறிவிப்பில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளதாவது:கொரோனா தொற்றை எதிர்த்து, நாடு முழுவதும் நடந்து வரும் போரில், ஏராளமான மருத்துவ பணியாளர்கள், தங்களை அர்ப்பணித்து, உறுதியுடன் போராடி வருகின்றனர்.

அங்கீகாரம்

இவர்களுக்கு ஊக்கமளிக்கவும், இப்பணிகளில் ஈடுபடுவோரின் எண்ணிக்கையையும், போதுமான அளவில் உறுதிப்படுத்தும் வகையிலும், பிரதமர் நரேந்திர மோடி, சில முக்கிய நடவடிக்கை களுக்கு அங்கீகாரம் வழங்கியுள்ளார்.இதன்படி, முதுநிலை மருத்துவ படிப்புக்கான, 'நீட்' நுழைவுத் தேர்வு, அடுத்த நான்கு மாதங்களுக்காவது ஒத்திவைக்கப்படும். தேர்வு தேதிக்கு முன்பாக, ஒரு மாதம் அவகாசம் அளித்து, புதிய அறிவிப்பு வெளியாகும்.

கொரோனா தொற்றை தடுக்கும் பணிகளில், மருத்துவ பணியாளர்கள் பலரும் ஈடுபட்டு வருகின்றனர். இவர்களில், தொடர்ந்து, 100 நாட்கள் மருத்துவ பணிகளில் ஈடுபட்டு இருந்தவர்களுக்கு, எதிர்காலத்தில், அரசு பணி வேலை வாய்ப்புகளின்போது, முன்னுரிமை வழங்கப்படும்.படிப்பு முடித்து பயிற்சி யில் உள்ள மாணவர்கள், கொரோனா தடுப்பு மருத்துவ பணிகளில் ஈடுபடுத்தப்படுவர்.

துறைத்தலைவர்கள், பேராசிரியர்களின் கீழ், அவர்களது வழிகாட்டுதலின்படி, மருத்துவ பணிகளில் இறங்கலாம்.இறுதி ஆண்டு படிக்கும், எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்., மருத்துவ மாணவர்களையும், மருத்துவ பணிகளில் ஈடுபடுத்தலாம்.பி.எஸ்.சி., நர்சிங் படித்து, உரிய தகுதிகளுடன் இருக்கும் நர்சுகளை, கொரோனா தொற்று வார்டுகளில், மூத்த டாக்டர்கள் மற்றும் நர்சுகளின் கண்காணிப்பு மற்றும் வழிகாட்டுதல்களின்படி, பணிகளில் ஈடுபடுத்தலாம்.

விருது

தொடர்ந்து, 100 நாட்கள் கொரோனோ தடுப்பு மருத்துவ பணிகளில் ஈடுபட்டிருந்த மருத்துவ பணியாளர்களின் மதிப்புமிகு சேவையை பாராட்டி, கவுரவிக்கும் வகையில், பிரதமர் சார்பில், தேசிய விருதுகள் வழங்கப்படும்.இவ்வாறு அதில், கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.இந்த அறிவிப்பின் காரணமாக, முதுநிலை மருத்துவ படிப்புக்கான நீட் நுழைவுத் தேர்வு, வரும் ஆக., 31 க்கு முன் நடைபெறுவதற்கு வாய்ப்பில்லை என்பது உறுதியாகியுள்ளது.

- நமது டில்லி நிருபர் -

Steroid sales rise 10-fold in Covid second wave

Steroid sales rise 10-fold in Covid second wave

Niyati Parikh & Parth Shastri TNN

Ahmedabad:04.05.2021

With increasing number of Covid patients requiring oxygen in the ongoing second wave of infections, the sale of steroids has also increased along with other Covid-related medication. Estimates by Federation of Chemists and Druggists Association (FGSCDA) suggest that sales of steroids particularly dexamethasone and methyl prednisolone, have gone up by a good 10-fold in April.

“Rise in cases have surely caused an increase in the sale of steroids. However, steroids are life-saving medicines and are not typically prescribed to all patients. But in the ongoing second wave of Covid-19 infections, at least seven in ten patients are prescribed these two steroids very frequently. This is against an estimated two in ten patients who were prescribed steroids and that too at a later stage,” said Alpesh Patel, president, FGSCDA.

Patel also explained that most patients were given steroids after at least a week of getting infected and that too usually at the hospital, during the first wave. However, the treatment approach has now changed drastically.

Ankur Aggarwal, founder, Medkart, said, “The sale of steroids are booming because patients are often prescribed these medicines at a much early stage. We’ve come across patients who have just contracted Covid and are prescribed steroids, to avert further complications. This was not the case in the earlier wave of Covid infections.”

Industry players said that in the first wave, there was no shortage of critical medicines or access to hospitals and healthcare facilities, or even oxygen and thus, complications, if any, were handled at hospitals.

“Such is not the case now. Therefore, the prescription of steroids has gone up,” said a city-based chemist.

During the first wave, steroids were given at end of first week, now they are being prescribed in one or two days in bid to save lung damage

Heavy crowds at vaccination centres

Heavy crowds at vaccination centres

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:04.05.2021

Amid confusion at the Tagore Hall vaccination centre — where police were called at around 10.30am to maintain calm among those queued up to get vaccinated — and at two other centres in western Ahmedabad, vaccination went peacefully. Several Amdavadis complained that they had no idea about how many people would turn up at a centre.

“Vaccination itself will become a super spreader event. Information on how many people will come to a particular centre and at what time is key to arrest further spread of Covid.,” said Jay Shukla, a 25-year-old banker.

Till evening, according to the CoWIN dashboard, some 22,077 Amdavadis got their jabs. Enthusiastic youngsters and those in their early forties were seen lining up. At around 11am, the drive reached its peak with 7,029 getting vaccinated. By 10.30am registrations were closed at 55 of the 210 centres Satish Chawbey from the Jodhpur area, who had gone to a local government school for vaccination, said, “Paramedics at the vaccination centre spend several minutes uploading information on to CoWIN and forget that the icebox won’t maintain the proper temperature for the vaccine for that long. This bureaucratic process should have a better way out. It could have serious implications.”

AMC officials in wards like Stadium, Navrangpura and Naranpura claimed that many people had turned up for offline registration at the 32 vaccination centres and made the situation next to impossible.

Govt advisor, AG resign, bureaucracy awaits changes

Govt advisor, AG resign, bureaucracy awaits changes

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:04.05.2021

Former chief secretary and advisor to the EPS government, K Shanmugam, advocate-general Vijay Narayan, and scores of government legal counsel on Monday resigned their posts in view of the regime change. The seat of power, Fort St George, is abuzz with talk of the changes expected in a week’s time.

Rajeev Ranjan is unlikely to continue as chief secretary. “Senior bureaucrat V Irai Anbu’s name doing the rounds. The new regime could decide in a matter of a few days,” said a source. Additional chief secretary Irai Anbu is director of Anna Institute of Management and director-general of training.

Senior officers such as commissioner of archaeology T Udhayachandran, commissioner of museums M S Shanmugam and TN medical services corporation chief P Umanath, have become ‘interim connect’ for the bureaucracy and are likely to get important roles. The trio are spotted in chief ministerelect M K Stalin’s Chittaranjan Salai residence for the second day in a row.

Key changes are expected in several departments, including municipal administration and rural development, PWD and highways. “They will be choosy. It is unlikely they will do carpet bombing at this point of time,” said another source. Bureaucrats expect the changes in a phased manner.

Shanmugam’s resignation came soon after Palaniswami put in his papers in the morning. He was appointed advisor to the EPS for a period of one year from January

31. “Due to personal reasons, I intend to resign from the post of advisor,” Shanmugam said, in his letter to the chief secretary.

Palaniswami chose Shanmugam, a Salem native, as chief secretary on June 30, 2019. He was to retire on July 31, 2020, but was given an extension twice by the Union government after requests from EPS citing Covid management. In May last year, DMK MPs submitted privilege notices against Shanmugam.

Vijay Narayan said that time had come for him to return to private practice. Following suit, state public prosecutor A Natarajan, government pleader V Jayaprakash Narayanan and other law officers tendered their resignations.

(With inputs from C Sureshkumar)

EPS resigns, to continue till next govt is formed

EPS resigns, to continue till next govt is formed

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:04.05.2021

Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday resigned after the ruling AIADMK suffered a rout in the assembly election.

Governor Banwarilal Purohit accepted the resignations of Palaniswami, who is in Salem, and his council of ministers that were sent to his secretary at Raj Bhavan. Purohit then dissolved the 15th Tamil Nadu legislative assembly.

“However, the governor has requested him (Palaniswami) and the council of ministers to continue until alternate arrangements are made,” said an official release from Raj Bhavan. The governor’s office is preparing for the new dispensation to take charge.

The DMK, contesting on the ‘rising sun’ symbol, won 133 seats, while the AIADMK led by O Panneerselvam and Palaniswami won 66 seats in the April 6 assembly election with the votes being counted on Sunday.

Later, Palaniswami tweeted, “I extend my wishes to M K Stalin, who will assume charge as chief minister of Tamil Nadu.” His deputy and AIADMK coordinator Pannerselvam also took to Twitter to extend wishes to Stalin. The DMK chief reciprocated, tweeting: “Need your advice and cooperation to create a better Tamil Nadu. Democracy is a combination of treasury and opposition. Let's protect democracy.”

Panneerselvam and Palaniswami in a joint statement said people were aware of the party’s excellent work for the state’s welfare in the last 10 years. “Treasury and opposition are both sides of the coin of administration. We have a responsibility to act as an instrument to ensure the chariot of administration is run appropriately. We will carry out all duties that are to be carried out with great responsibility as opposition,” they said.

Stalin takes charge; advises admin on Covid-19 preventive measures

Stalin takes charge; advises admin on Covid-19 preventive measures

Security Arrangements Stepped Up

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:04.05.2021

DMK president and chief minister-elect M K Stalin on Monday took charge, literally, holding a review meeting with the administrative machinery-led by chief secretary Rajeev Ranjan on Covid-preventive measures. The meeting lasted an hour at his Chittaranjan Salai residence in Teynampet at noon.

Senior bureaucrats, Atulya Misra (revenue), J Radhakrishnan (health) and K Phanindra Reddy (commissioner for revenue administration), and health officials briefed Stalin on the Covid situation. “I had a consultative meeting with the officials on the measures to contain the spread of the virus. I advised the officials that all necessary measures must be taken up in full swing to prevent Covid-19 and upgrade treatment,” Stalin said in a statement. He told the officials to make available the anti-viral drug, Remdesivir, in all important towns in the state, akin to distribution to private hospitals in Chennai. The administration should ensure adequate beds, oxygen and medicines given the spike in Covid cases.

According to sources, the officials briefed about the requirement of further restrictions to contain the virus as the active caseload crossed 20,000-mark and 122 fatalities recorded on Monday. “He (Stalin) was aware of the situation before being briefed. The officials explained what had been done so far and the preparedness,” said a source. On Sunday, the officials held a brief talk with the chief minister-elect on the swearing-in ceremony. The event is expected to take place in Raj Bhavan on May 7, after Stalin is elected legislature party leader by the party MLAs on Tuesday. He will stake claim to form the government soon after. In a related development, the ministers’ chambers in Secretariat were spruced up on Monday, with furniture and name boards being removed.

Meanwhile, police also stepped up security at Stalin’s residence with footfalls going high. A team of police led by an inspector of police, two sub-inspectors of police and 22 others were assigned for security. The police team will maintain surveillance roundthe-clock. That apart, 24 police personnel will position themselves at the Chittaranjan Salai-Cenotaph Road junction and on the eastern side of Stalin’s residence to monitor round the clock on a shift basis. A bomb detective and disposal squad team also scanned the vehicles arriving at Stalin’s residence.

Bureaucrats have been making a beeline to Stalin’s residence ever since the poll results indicated an edge for the DMK. All senior bureaucrats, including S Krishnan, SK Prabakar, Harmander Singh, Dayanand Kataria and Rajesh Lakhoni visited the leader and exchanged greetings on Sunday, besides scores of state government officials.

(With inputs from A Selvaraj)

ON THE HOT SEAT: M K Stalin holds meeting with senior bureaucrats at his Chittaranjan Salai residence in Teynampet on Monday

Covid case spike leads to rise in deaths

Covid case spike leads to rise in deaths

Delay In Treatment Ups Toll

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:04.05.2021

The 122 deaths reported on Monday pushed the Covid death toll this week to 817 –a daily average of 117 – and the cumulative death toll in the state touched 14,468. The increasing number of cases is not only keeping hospitals crowded and healthcare providers over worked, but also increasing deaths, particularly in high incidence districts across the state.

When cases were increasing, in the week between March 22 and 28, the state reported an average of 1,655 cases and10 deaths every day. During that week, the average daily case fatality rate – number of deaths among the total number of people tested positive – was 0.6. Although average daily cases climbed to 8,288 in the week between April 12 and 18 along with 26 deaths, the week’s CFR dropped to 0.34 as people reached hospitals on time and sought treatment. But for two weeks after that, the state has been seeing a steady rise in the case fatality rate. Between April 19 and 25, when cases rose to 12,934 and deaths rose to 58, the weekly average of CFR rose to 0.47. In the week between April 26 and May 2, when the daily cases rose to17,875 deaths averaged to 113 and CFR was hovering around 0.63.

“Most people who come to hospitals early recover despite age and comorbid conditions,” said Government Corona Hospital director Dr K Narayanaswamy. “Delaying treatment despite having symptoms can lead to severe complications, extend hospital stay and may also be fatal,” he said. With cases going up, treatment is delayed either because they can’t find beds. Some hospitals delay treatment as they have severe shortages of drugs such as antiviral remdesivir.

Public health officials said the state reserves tertiary care beds for people who are sick, in need of oxygen and intensive care. “Others are sent to health centres, care centre or home,” he added. At at 7.30pm on Monday, the state website showed only six of the 1,766 oxygen beds and none of the 919 ICU beds in the five government tertiary care hospitals were vacant. The situation was similar in several private hospitals.

In the past seven days, Chennai, the most affected district, has reported 255 deaths, including 38 on Monday. Every day, Chennai, has been reporting an average of 36 deaths. “The situation can become worse in tier-II cities and towns if cases continue increase,” says a senior epidemiologist.

Octogenarian dies of cardiac arrest minutes after wife’s death

Octogenarian dies of cardiac arrest minutes after wife’s death

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:04.05.2021

A 86-year-old man died of cardiac arrest minutes after his wife passed away on Sunday night at their house in Thiruvottiyur.

Police said Thangappan, a retired private company employee, and Visalakshi, 76, lived by themselves in the house. Thangappan had been caring for his ailing wife who was bedridden for the past three days.

On Sunday night, her health condition deteriorated and she died after drinking some water Thangappan gave her. Thangappan, who had just returned from a pharmacy, tried to wakeher up and called out to neighbours for help.

Police said by the time his neighbours got home, Thangappan too had collapsed and was found dead next to Visalakshi. The neighbours rushed him to a private hospital where doctors declared that he was brought dead. Police later said doctors said Thangappan had suffered a cardiac arrest.

Neighbours, during inquiry, told police that the couple were inseparable and went on morning walks together. They stopped stepping out due to the pandemic and took all precautions, they told police. Police did not register any case as there was no suspicion in the deaths.

Common admission season for all courses needed: Experts

Common admission season for all courses needed: Experts

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:04.05.2021

Educationists and academicians demand a common admission window for all courses to avoid delay in admissions and seat wastage every year. At present, admissions to arts, science courses, medical, engineering, veterinary and other courses are being held separately from June to October.

Arts and science colleges, which have early intake, witness huge dropouts after admissions to professional courses and even top engineering colleges are seeing up to 500 vacant seats after medical and dental counselling. Colleges feel a common admissions schedule can bring down the number of seats left vacant every year.

“Having different statutory bodies and admissions at different times is a great disadvantage for arts and science colleges,” said Thomas Amirtham, principal of Loyola College. “Arts and science colleges complete the admission process by July or August. But students discontinue their courses in September or October saying they got admissions to engineering, dental or agriculture courses. By that time, arts and science universities wrap up admissions and the seats these students give up are left vacant,” he said, adding that admissions could be done in a two to three months window for all courses.

Every year, after the medical counselling and veterinary counselling, around 300 seats from Anna University’s four campuses are left vacant. These seats cannot be filled after the counselling process.

Students and parents are also financially affected as many colleges do not reimburse the first sem fees paid to secure the admission.

“It is always good to have a national-level calendar of events for academic institutions. It will help students aspiring to join institutions across the country to plan,” said S P Thyagarajan, former vice-chancellor of University of Madras. “Due to the pandemic, there could be delays in admissions as Class XII exams have been postponed. It is better to have national-level scheduling to avoid confusion,” he said.

Deemed universities wanted Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) counselling for IITs and centrally funded technical institutions to be restricted to just four rounds. “Setting admission calendar with eight rounds of JoSAA, which constitutes only 5% of engineering seats in the country, jeopardizes the remaining 95% as many seats fall vacant after the admission process is over,” said S Vaidyasubramaniam, vice-chancellor of SASTRA.

Anna University former vice-chancellor E Balagurusamy, however, had a different view and said a common academic window for all courses at all India level is not necessary. “All centralised institutions such as IITs, NITs, central universities may have a common admission schedule while other institutions can have a schedule at state level,” he said.

Arts and science colleges complete the admission process by July or August. But students discontinue their courses in September or October saying they got admissions to engineering, dental or agriculture courses

THOMAS AMIRTHAM

Principal Loyola College

Textile Shops Crowded; No Masks, Physical Distancing

Wedding frenzy ups Covid risk in Kanchi

Textile Shops Crowded; No Masks, Physical Distancing

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:04.05.2021

The wedding season is set to begin in about a week and sari showrooms in Kancheepuram are seeing huge crowds, triggering fears of a Covid-19 cluster.

The district administration sealed four shops last week, but government-run stores and private establishments were packed on Monday when the district reported 835 fresh cases of Covid-19. At one store, hundreds of people entered as soon as it opened and resulted in chaos on Gandhi Road.

In October 2020, Kumaran Silks in Chennai was sealed after a video emerged showing a massive crowd inside violating distancing rules. The same month, a showroom in Salem was sealed after its inaugural offer of saris for just ₹23 each, and shirts and ‘veshtis’ for ₹20 each brought in multitudes of shoppers.

In Kancheepuram, little has changed. While shops measuring more than 3,000sqft remain shut, smaller ones are letting in more than 100 people at a time. “Families come in groups of not less than 20 members, as it is the practice to invite close relatives to select a sari for the bride. Sometimes they argue and we don’t want to forgo a customer,” said Shankar Das, who runs a showroom in Kancheepuram. Most customers buy saris in bulk and the bridal sari costs not less than ₹1 lakh, says he.

Fears of an imminent ‘complete lockdown’ are also driving people to shops. “Our wedding is planned in August, but we are rushing now as we fear there might be a complete lockdown,” said Sharadha of Vellore.

Most shopkeepers fail to adhere to safety protocols, saying it is difficult to communicate to customers while wearing masks.

Kancheepuram collector R Mageswari said many shops had closed down. “We are keeping an eye on those violating the norms. The public should realise the seriousness of the pandemic and cooperate.”

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