Wrong address for vax centre causes misery

Wrong address for vax centre causes misery

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:14.05.2021

A wrong address in the CoWin portal for vaccination sites is causing a lot of hardship for people looking to get the jab. A South Delhi Municipal municipal corporation-run mother and child care centre’s official address is stated to be MCW Nehru Place primary health care centre. However, it is actually located in Giri Nagar, wasting the time of people allotted the site. Many complaints have been raised in this regard on social media platforms, but to no avail.

Complainants said that on reaching South East district’s Nehru Place primary healthcare centre, the address on the vaccination portal, they realise that there is no such centre. In reality, the centre being referred to on the site is located in Giri Nagar near Kalkaji. The Giri Nagar location is around 2.6km away from the Nehru Place and the wrong address is causing much inconvenience to people who are forced to search for the real location.

“Wrong and incomplete address of the Covid vaccination centre at MCW Nehru place in South East Delhi has created havoc to the citizens who got appointment online for this centre. Instead of Nehru place it's in Giri nagar. Pincode is also misleading,” said one Vinod Bansal.

Many were seen asking for milestones or landmarks near the actual site of the centre. Ranjan Basu said that his 2nd dose of vaccination is allotted to the Nehru Place centre, but he wasn’t able to find the location on Google maps.

A municipal official said that the matter can be dealt with by the district immunisation centre. “If the portal states the wrong address, then the district immunisation officer can get it changed,” the official said.

The centre is administering the Covishield vaccine and all its slots are booked — still displaying the wrong address on the Co-Win portal — at the time of going to print.

AN OFFICIAL SAYS

If the portal states the wrong address, then the dist immunisation officer can get it changed

Bharat Biotech ready to share formula: Centre

Bharat Biotech ready to share formula: Centre

New Delhi: 14.05.2021 

Refuting allegations that the Centre is controlling supplies of Covaxin and not letting Bharat Biotech supply additional doses of the jab to Delhi, the Centre said the capital has received 75,000 doses of free Covaxin from the it, whereas Delhi government itself has procured 1 lakh doses and private sector got 20,000 doses.

“We refute (the charge) that there is any pressure on anybody not to supply to any particular state,” NITI Aayog member health Dr VK Paul said, adding that such allegations affect the morale of vaccine manufacturers.

He also countered the Delhi government’s claim that the state has run out of Covaxin. On Tuesday, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia had alleged the Covaxin manufacturer has in a letter said it cannot provide the Delhi government vaccines due to unavailability, and referred to directions of government officials concerned.

Paul maintained that the Centre’s role is to facilitate. Paul said Bharat Biotech is also ramping up capacity and has already roped in three public sector undertakings. He also clarified Covaxin requires a specialised BSL3 (level 3 labs) platform and any company equipped with such laboratories can come forward for manufacturing the vaccine. TNN

7 5THOUSAND DOSES FREE COVAXIN GIVEN TO DELHI GOVT

Bengalureans seeking jab in other dists face locals’ ire

Bengalureans seeking jab in other dists face locals’ ire

Rajiv Kalkod & Ranganath K TNN

Bengaluru/Kolar:14.05.2021

Youngsters from Bengaluru travelling to inoculation centres in surrounding districts such as Chikkaballapura, Tumakuru, Kolar and pockets of Bengaluru Rural like Nelamangala to get the Covid-19 shot, are increasingly running into resistance from locals, who say they are consuming their share of doses.

While arguments have broken out, no untoward incident has taken place. District administrations are deploying police at session sites such as government hospitals, where vaccines are being administered.

Police say locals are miffed with Bengalureans taking “their share” of doses, leaving them with a shortage. A senior officer said there is “no way” to stop anyone from going anywhere to take the vaccine. “The most we can do is pacify both sides,” he said.

The officer cited the example of a young woman who got into an argument with a software professional from Bengaluru outside Nelamangala government hospital. “The woman said her mother is unable to get the vaccine due to a shortage caused by increasing visitors from the city. The software professional replied saying that she should speak to the authorities concerned and that he was helpless. Similar scenes are being witnessed at other health centres outside Bengaluru,” he said.

However, Bengalureans say they have no choice. Nitish Kumar and Kameshwari, who are from Koramangala, travelled nearly 80 km to get the jab at a site in Chikkaballapura. Nitish, a tech company employee, told TOI that though he wanted to get the shot in Bengaluru, the only available slot showing on the CoWIN app was in Chikkaballapura. Since he was desperate to get the shot, he opted to travel there.

Local residents from these districts had approached senior police, requesting them to send back vaccine seekers from Bengaluru. “We told them we don’t have the right to stop anyone seeking the vaccine. They then asked us to arrange vaccines for them, but this again is not in our hand,” another senior officer from Chikkaballapura said.

In Kolar on Wednesday, hours before the government suspended the drive for people between 18 and 44 years, district in-charge minister Aravinda Limbavali said they were halting vaccinations for people below 44 years to streamline the process and to give locals priority. Scores of youth from Bengaluru are visiting far off places like Gudibande and Bagepalli in Kolar and Chikkaballapura for the jab.

Dr Jagadish, district surgeon, Kolar, told TOI that since there were complaints that people from Bengaluru got most of the doses on Monday, authorities decided to halt the drive with a view to give local youth priority.

Dr PV Ramesh, district surgeon, Chikkaballapura, said the vaccine drive is continuing in the district but admitted that most beneficiaries in the last couple of days were from Bengaluru.

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Not Giving Second Dose Of COVID Vaccine Is Violation Of Article 21 : Karnataka High Court

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NEET 2021: Postponed ad infinitum? Silence from NTA leaves students anxious

NEET 2021: Postponed ad infinitum? Silence from NTA leaves students anxious

Education

Kanika Khurana

Updated May 13, 2021 | 10:18 IST

https://www.timesnownews.com/education/article/neet-2021-postponed-ad-infinitum-silence-from-nta-leaves-students-anxious/756462#:~:text=NTA%20is%20yet%20to%20release,2021%20registration%20and%20application%20process.&text=Silence%20from%20NTA%20added%20to,for%20the%20examination%20was%20announced.

NTA is yet to release notification regarding NEET 2021 registration and application process. While there is no update on postponement of August 1 exam, many students dread the same is inevitable.

NEET 2021 News & Updates | Photo Credit: iStock Images

National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, NEET 2021 for undergraduate admissions to medical and dental courses is scheduled to be conducted on August 1, 2021. However, with the current situation, many students are now worried for the exam to be postponed again as the application forms have not been released yet. Silence from NTA added to the anxiety of lakhs of students across the country.

National Testing Agency, NTA had last issued a notification on March 12, when the date for the examination was announced. After the same, students were expecting the application window to open. However, NTA has remained silent on this for over two months since, causing aspirants to wonder at the future of the exam.

With the country still struggling to contain the second wave, the uncertainty of the future is troubling students across the nation. Barring two, all the Class 12 board examinations have been postponed. The same is the case for all competitive examinations including JEE Mains 2021 April and May sessions. With this, the possibility of postponement of NEET 2021 is very real as well.

Students, however, would want some word from the authorities. “We have been preparing for over a year now. Some of my friends have been preparing for more than 2 years…and we know nothing. Would the exam be conducted on August 1? Would it be postponed? What about applications? When do we fill the form?” says Ridhima.

Another aspirant, Vineet is all bundled about the exam as well. “We know nothing, we can’t study because we know nothing. Every morning I visit the website but there is no notice, no update. Any word, even about when the form would be released would help. Till there is no word, we just keep waiting!” he says.

Lakhs of students across the country resonate the sentiments as the wait gets longer. While many have accepted the possibility of the exam getting postponed, the anxiety is regarding the utter silence from the authorities.

As per the last notification released in March, the examination is to be conducted in offline pen and paper mode. The notification had also stated that the information bulletin for the exam would be made available ‘shortly on the website’. Since then, there has been no notice regarding the exam.

ஊர் சுற்றுவோர் அதிகரிப்பால் போலீசார் சோதனை தீவிரம்

ஊர் சுற்றுவோர் அதிகரிப்பால் போலீசார் சோதனை தீவிரம்

Added : மே 14, 2021 02:02

சென்னை:ஊரடங்கு உத்தரவை மீறி வெட்டியாய் ஊர் சுற்றுபவர்கள் அதிகரித்து வருவதால் மாநிலம் முழுதும் போலீசார் வாகன சோதனையை தீவிரப்படுத்தியுள்ளனர்.

கொரோனா தொற்று பரவலைக் கட்டுப்படுத்த வரும் 24ம் தேதி வரை முழு ஊரடங்கு அமலில் உள்ளது. 'பொது மக்களிடம் கனிவுடன் நடந்து கொள்ள வேண்டும். வெட்டியாய் ஊர் சுற்றுபவர்களின் வாகனங்கள் மீது வழக்குப்பதிவு செய்யலாம். வாகனங்களை பறிமுதல் செய்யக்கூடாது. அப்படி பறிமுதல் செய்ய நேரிட்டால் சில மணி நேரங்களில் விடுவித்து விட வேண்டும்' என சுற்றறிக்கை வாயிலாக போலீஸ் அதிகாரிகள் மற்றும் போலீசாருக்கு டி.ஜி.பி. திரிபாதி உத்தரவிட்டார்.

இதனால் போலீசாரின் கைகள் கட்டப்பட்டு வெட்டியாய் ஊர் சுற்றுவோர் எண்ணிக்கை அதிகரித்து வருவதால் மாநிலம் முழுதும் வாகன சோதனையை நேற்று மாலையில் இருந்து போலீசார் தீவிரப்படுத்தி உள்ளனர். சென்னையில் 200 இடங்களில் சட்டம் -- ஒழுங்கு போலீசாரும் 118 இடங்களில் போக்குவரத்து போலீசாரும் வாகன சோதனையில் ஈடுபட்டு உள்ளனர்.

மாநிலம் முழுதும் 'ட்ரோன்' வாயிலாகவும் கண்காணிப்பு நடக்கிறது.போலீஸ் அதிகாரிகள் கூறுகையில் 'கொரோனா தொற்று பரவல் அசுர வேகத்தில் இருப்பதை பொதுமக்கள் உணரும் வகையில் வாகன சோதனை உள்ளிட்ட நடவடிக்கைகளை தீவிரப்படுத்தி உள்ளோம்' என்றனர்.

Other apps collect more data: WhatsApp WhatsApp In Affidavit Mentions That Tech Giants Like Zoom & Google Have Similar Privacy Policies

Other apps collect more data: WhatsApp

WhatsApp In Affidavit Mentions That Tech Giants Like Zoom & Google Have Similar Privacy Policies

Anam.Ajmal@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:14.05.2021 

Days before the rollout of its new privacy policy on Saturday (May 15), WhatsApp has said that many internet-based applications and websites have similar policies and some collect even more data.

In an affidavit filed in the Delhi HC on May 5, the Facebook-owned instant messaging app said that Big Basket, Koo, Ola, Truecaller, and Zomato as well as the government’s contact tracing app Aarogya Setu collects similar data that WhatsApp does. The affidavit also mentions that American giants like Zoom and Google have similar privacy policies.

This affidavit was filed in response to a petition filed by advocate Harsha Gupta, who had argued that WhatsApp’s new policy violates a user’s right to privacy.

On Thursday, WhatsApp told TOI in a statement sent over email that users will not lose functionality if they do not accept its new terms on May15. “WhatsApp continues to provide an important way for friends and family to stay in touch during this difficult time. While the majority of users have already approved our update, no one will lose functionality on May 15 if they haven’t yet and we’ll be sure to provide reminders at a later time. We want everyone to know that this update does not impact the privacy of personal messages. We’re providing information about new options we are building to communicate with businesses that people may choose to use in the future. We’re grateful for the important role WhatsApp plays in people’s lives and we’ll take every opportunity to explain how we protect people’s personal messages and private information.”

On Wednesday, too, WhatsApp had reassured users that their accounts would not be deleted. “No one will have their accounts deleted or lose functionality of WhatsApp on May 15th because of this update.” The reassurance, however, came with a caveat. The giant has said that after “persistent reminders” to users they will “encounter limited functionality on WhatsApp until you accept the updates”.

“After a few weeks of limited functionality, you won’t be able to receive incoming calls or notifications and WhatsApp will stop sending messages and calls to your phone,” the announcement added.

The impending WhatsApp privacy policy, announced in January, had led to concerns among rights experts and activists, who had said it would dilute the privacy provided by the platform by maximising data collection. The company had refuted these claims, and assured users that the new terms would impact only business accounts.

Initially, the company had planned to implement the policy by February 8, which was postponed after public outrage, and a movement to other platforms, including Signal and Telegram. Activists had termed WhatsApp’s move as giving users no options, and “coercing their consent”, since the technology giant had announced that users’ accounts would get deleted if they did not accept the new terms.

The Facebook-owned app says Big Basket, Koo, Ola, Truecaller, Zomato and the government’s Aarogya Setu collects similar data that WhatsApp does

When lockdown is wide open

When lockdown is wide open

FOUR DAYS AFTER TAMIL NADU SHUTS UP COMPLETELY, VIOLATIONS RAMPANT

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

14.05.2021 

Tamil Nadu is officially under a lockdown from May 10 to 24, but people are yet to treat it as such. Every day, especially the period till noon, is like a normal day busy roads full of traffic, people either shopping, haggling or talking in groups, with or without masks.

With neither voluntary adherence nor stern enforcement, the lockdown is failing miserably even as the daily Covid-19 caseload cross the 30,000 mark. Across the state, more than 91 lakh cases have been registered for various lockdown violations In Chennai, the usual shopping hubs recorded no dip in vehicular and pedestrian movements in the days following the lockdown announcement. Barring a few surprise vehicle checks in some spots, there have been no concerted efforts by law enforcers to prevent non-essential activities on the roads, around neighbourhoods and in markets. Places such as Flower Bazaar, Broadway and Purasawalkam continue to be packed with a large number of vehicles and autorickshaws plying without a semblance of protocol enforcement. Though private cabs and autorickshaws are not allowed to operate, they are the biggest violators, as they carry more number of passengers than permitted.

In districts such as Coimbatore, police are coming across illegal activities as well. On Wednesday, a team of personnel in khakhi swooped down on a farm at Kalikkanaickenpalayam near Thondamuthur and arrested 10 people who were holding rooster fights. Violations of a different kind were spotted in the city. Sree Kumaran Thanga Maligai, a leading jewellery outlet, was sealed for allowing customers on Thursday. A Amalraj, Coimbatore police commissioner and west zone inspector general (IG) said that initially they were just warning motorists, but from Friday violators would be photographed and penalty would be levied. Cases would be slapped on repeat violators, he said.

Among the more active law enforcers, the Madurai Corporation collected more than 1 crore in fines over the past four days for not wearing masks and not adhering to physical distancing. As a result, many people are now wearing masks to avoid being fined in public places. But the scene changes in residential localities, where masks are forgotten, youngsters hang out in groups and play games and people throng the neighbourhood grocery stores. On Thursday, a number of traders gathered at Villapuram Housing Board area for the weekly market. Officials from the Madurai corporation and police had to intervene and stop them from setting up shop.

In Trichy city, police registered around 1,600 cases since May 10 for violations ranging from roaming on the streets after noon citing unnecessary reasons to not wearing masks. At grocery stores and medical shops, no one bothers to queue up or practise physical distancing. Similar scenes are seen at the special counter set up for buying Covid-19 drugs by the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation at the Government Physiotherapy College in Trichy.

With every passing day, the number of vehicles on the city roads is increasing, apparently emboldened by the absence of strict action by police. After instructions from top brass to not harass people, police seemed to have stepped back even in enforcement as well. They are adopting a milder approach in places. On Thursday, several motorists in Pollachi were stopped by police and made to take a pledge that they will not step out unnecessarily.

In Chennai, the rising number of cases and violations on the ground have made police take notice and warn that from Friday onwards strict action would be taken by deploying personnel across the city.

Corpn to run major vax drive for three days

Corpn to run major vax drive for three days

Jabs Only For 45+; Plans To Clear Vaccine Stock Left

Komal.Gautham@timesgroup.com

Chennai:  14.05.2021 

The city corporation will conduct a “massive vaccination drive” in the next three days beginning on Friday, covering one lakh people aged above 45 years. (The Tamil Nadu government hasn’t opened vaccination for people aged between 18 and 45 years.) “Vaccination will be done at apartment complexes, markets, residential localities and companies. At a marriage hall, traders and associations will be called and administered the vaccine,” said a zonal health officer.

Greater Chennai Corporation, which has a stock of 1.2 lakh doses of Covishield doses and 16,000 of Covaxin, will keep about 20% as reserve for second doses and administer the rest.

“We want to finish the stocks we have and vaccinate the maximum number of people in a short time to cut the rate of transmission. What is the use of the vaccines if we do not use them?” corporation commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi said.

Harminder Singh, principal secretary to municipal administration department, said the government was procuring more vaccines and there won’t be any shortage.

All zonal medical officers and zonal health officers were called for a meeting on Thursday to review vaccine coverage. Many zones in the north such as Thiruvottiyur (42%), Tondiarpet (29%) and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar (31%), which had low coverage of those above 45, will be the major focus, said an official. Some like Adyar (75%), Anna Nagar (70%) and Ambattur (63%) had better coverage.

Of the 16.4 lakh doses administered so far, Covishield accounted for12 lakh (8.7 lakh 1st dose and 3.3 lakh 2nd dose) and Covaxin 4.3 lakh (2.6 lakh 1st dose and1.7 lakh 2nd dose).

In the drive that began in February, about 16.38 lakh have been vaccinated (including both doses). Of the nearly 22 lakh people above 45 years in a population of 80 lakh, about 50% got the first dose.

“We vaccinated about 35,000 a day earlier. Since May, there has been a fall in numbers. To ensure 35,000-40,000 are vaccinated daily, we will vaccinate them all,” said Bedi.

12-16 weeks gap between 2 Covishield jabs okayed

12-16 weeks gap between 2 Covishield jabs okayed

New Delhi:14.05.2021 

The Centre on Thursday approved extending the gap between two doses of Covishield vaccine from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks following the recommendations of a government panel. There is no change in interval of Covaxin vaccine doses.

The Covid working group chaired by Dr N K Arora has recommended extension of the gap between the first and second doses of Covishield vaccine to 12-16 weeks. Niti Aayog member and head of the expert group on vaccines Dr V K Paul said the decision has been taken on basis of the experience of the UK where the 12-week gap norm was implemented. TNN

Vax maker ready to share formula

With states urging the Centre to share the formula of Covid vaccines with other manufacturers, Niti Aayog’s V K Paul on Thursday said that Bharat Biotech has welcomed the idea. “We give an open invitation to firms who want to do this.” 

4-6 week interval based on studies: Doc V K Paul

He said the earlier 4-6 week interval was based on studies but now there is data from actual implementation of the more spaced out schedule.

Health minister Harshvardhan said the “decision has been taken based on recommendations given by Covid working group after analysing emerging evidence.” The recommendation of the Covid Working Group was accepted by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC). Dr Paul said the technical group that evaluated the evidence was drawn from different quarters and did a thorough job of its recommendations.

In a statement issued by ministry said that “based on the available real-life evidences, particularly from UK, the Covid-19 Working Group agreed for increasing the dosing interval to 12-16 weeks between two doses of Covishield vaccine. No change in interval of Covaxin vaccine doses was recommended”.

Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan has written to states and UTs to take steps to widely disseminate the information about the dosage gap among programme managers, vaccinators and recipients.

Times View

The government’s constantly shifting stance on the ideal interval between Covishield doses is befuddling. Without speculating on the possible causes, we would like to point out that frequent changes don’t inspire confidence. Winning people’s trust is key in the vaccination battle against coronavirus.

Senior citizen given different vaccines in Maha

Senior citizen given different vaccines in Maha

Aurangabad:13.05.2021 

A senior citizen in Jalna district, around 140km from here, completed his twodose vaccination but with the first one being Covaxin and the second Covishield. His family claims he has suffered minor complications after the second dose, reports Prasad Joshi.

The rare incident, reported from the home district of Maharashtra’s health minister Rajesh Tope, has brought health authorities under fire and the recipient has been put under watch.

Police officer with MBBS degree dusts off steth, heads Covid centre for cops

Police officer with MBBS degree dusts off steth, heads Covid centre for cops

Harveer Dabas TNN

Bijnor:13.05.2021 

Ganesh Kumar Gupta’s father, a street vendor in UP’s Gorakhpur, wanted to see him become a doctor. But Ganesh wanted to be a cop.

He thought about the dilemma and finally did something that made both of them happy. He got his MBBS degree and then sat for his Provincial Police Service (PPS) exam in 2018, cracking it to now hold the post of DSP in Bijnor.

Gupta's medical qualifications have come in handy. As Covid-19 struck and hundreds of policemen started falling ill, Gupta dusted off his stethoscope that he had packed and forgotten. After permission from his seniors, he then took charge of a new Covid-19 facility where scores of cops are being treated.

At least162 policemen have tested positive for Covid-19 after returning from panchayat election duty in Bijnor district alone. Forty more have symptoms and are awaiting their reports. With no beds in hospitals, the department opened a new ward to treat the affected policemen. And who better than Gupta to take charge of it.

“In such circumstances, circle officer Ganesh Gupta has come as a blessing. He is looking after all the policemen at the quarantine centre. Without him things would have been difficult for us. We all are proud of our officer,” said Dharamveer Singh, superintendent of police, Bijnor.

Full report on www.toi.in

Ganesh Kumar Gupta

தன்னாட்சி அந்தஸ்து விண்ணப்பம் யு.ஜி.சி.,க்கு அதிகாரம்: ஐகோர்ட்

தன்னாட்சி அந்தஸ்து விண்ணப்பம் யு.ஜி.சி.,க்கு அதிகாரம்: ஐகோர்ட்

Added : மே 11, 2021 23:04

சென்னை:'தன்னாட்சி அந்தஸ்து கோரும் கல்லுாரிகளின் விண்ணப்பங்கள் மீது, தகுதி அடிப்படையில் பல்கலை மானியக்குழு சுதந்திரமாக முடிவெடுக்கலாம்' என, சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.

சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில்உள்ள அன்னபூரணா பொறியியல் கல்லுாரி, தன்னாட்சி அந்தஸ்து கோரி, அண்ணா பல்கலைக்கு விண்ணப்பித்தது. அந்த விண்ணப்பம், பல்கலை மானிய குழுவான, யு.ஜி.சி.,க்கு அனுப்பப்பட வேண்டும். ஆனால், மாணவர்கள் சேர்க்கை குறைவு, தேர்ச்சி விகிதம் குறைவு என காரணங்களை காட்டி, அண்ணா பல்கலை நிராகரித்தது.

இதையடுத்து, தன்னாட்சி அந்தஸ்து அளிக்கக்கோரி, நேரடியாக யு.ஜி.சி.,க்கு, அன்னபூரணா கல்லுாரி விண்ணப்பித்தது. அதைத் தொடர்ந்து, அண்ணா பல்கலை நிராகரித்ததை எதிர்த்தும், விண்ணப்பத்தை பரிசீலிக்க, யு.ஜி.சி.,க்கு உத்தரவிடக் கோரியும், சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தில் வழக்கு தொடுத்தது.மனு நீதிபதி ஆர்.சுரேஷ்குமார் முன் விசாரணைக்கு வந்தது.

மனுதாரர் சார்பில், வழக்கறிஞர் கந்தன் துரைசாமி, அண்ணா பல்கலை சார்பில், வழக்கறிஞர் விஜயகுமார், யு.ஜி.சி., சார்பில், வழக்கறிஞர் ரபு மனோகர் ஆஜராகினர்.மனுவை விசாரித்த நீதிபதி சுரேஷ்குமார் பிறப்பித்த உத்தரவு:

தன்னாட்சி அந்தஸ்து கோரும் விண்ணப்பங்களை, சுதந்திரமாக யு.ஜி.சி., பரிசீலிக்க எந்த தடையும் இல்லை. விதிமுறைகளின்படி, சம்பந்தப்பட்ட பல்கலை வழியாக விண்ணப்பங்கள் வர வேண்டும். அந்த விண்ணப்பங்களை, பரிந்துரைகளுடன் யு.ஜி.சி.,க்கு அனுப்பலாம் அல்லது காரணங்களை குறிப்பிட்டு பல்கலை நிராகரிக்கலாம்.

அவ்வாறு பல்கலை நிராகரித்தாலும், மேல் நடவடிக்கைக்காக, அதை யு.ஜி.சி.,க்கு தான் அனுப்ப வேண்டும். அது தான் விதிமுறைகள் ஏற்படுத்தப்பட்டதன் நோக்கம். இரண்டு காரணங்களை குறிப்பிட்டு, விண்ணப்பத்தை அண்ணா பல்கலை நிராகரித்துள்ளது.இந்த இரண்டு காரணங்களும், விண்ணப்பத்தை சுதந்திரமாக பரிசீலிப்பதற்கு குறுக்கே நிற்குமா என்பதை, யு.ஜி.சி., தான் முடிவெடுக்க வேண்டும்; பல்கலை அல்ல.

மனுதாரர் அளித்த விண்ணப்பத்தை, சட்டப்படி தகுதி அடிப்படையில், சுதந்திரமாக யு.ஜி.சி., பரிசீலிக்க முடியும்.எனவே, தன்னாட்சி அந்தஸ்து கோரி, மனுதாரர் அளித்த விண்ணப்பத்தை, யு.ஜி.சி., பரிசீலிக்க வேண்டும். அவ்வாறு பரிசீலிக்கும் போது, அண்ணா பல்கலை தெரிவித்து உள்ள கருத்தையும் கணக்கில் எடுத்துக் கொள்ளலாம்.இரண்டு மாதங்களில் முடிவெடுத்து, இறுதி உத்தரவு பிறப்பிக்க வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு நீதிபதி உத்தரவிட்டார்.

அரசு ஊழியர்களுக்கு ரூ.2,000 வழங்க தடை கோரி வழக்கு

அரசு ஊழியர்களுக்கு ரூ.2,000 வழங்க தடை கோரி வழக்கு

Added : மே 12, 2021 00:54

மதுரை:மத்திய, மாநில அரசு ஊழியர்களுக்கு கொரோனா நிவாரணம் 2,000 ரூபாய் வழங்க தடை கோரி, உயர் நீதிமன்ற மதுரைக் கிளையில், மனு தாக்கல் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது.

துாத்துக்குடி மாவட்டம் திருச்செந்துார் வழக்கறிஞர் ராம்குமார் ஆதித்தன் தாக்கல் செய்த மனு:அரிசி ரேஷன் கார்டுதாரர்களுக்கு கொரோனா நிவாரணம், முதல் தவணையாக, மே 15 முதல், 2,000 ரூபாய் வழங்க அரசு அரசாணை பிறப்பித்தது. இதன் நோக்கம், ஊரடங்கால் வாழ்வாதாரம் பாதிக்கப்பட்டோருக்கு உதவி செய்வது.

தமிழகத்தில் 2 கோடியே 7 லட்சத்து 66 ஆயிரத்து 950 அரிசி ரேஷன் கார்டு தார்களுக்கு 4,153.39 கோடி ரூபாய் வழங்கப்பட உள்ளது.இவ்வகை கார்டுதாரர்களில் மத்திய மாநில அரசு ஊழியர்களும் அடங்குவர். இவர்களுக்கு, ஊரடங்கு காலத்தில் சம்பள குறைப்பு இன்றி மாதந்தோறும் சம்பளம் வழங்கப்படுகிறது.

இவர்களுக்குரிய நிவார ணத் தொகையை, ஆக்சிஜன் உற்பத்தியை அதிகரிக்கவும்; தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகளில் கட்டணமின்றி கொரோனா தடுப்பூசி செலுத்தவும் பயன்படுத்தலாம். பல்வேறு தொழில், வணிகப் பிரிவினர், தனியார் நிறுவன ஊழியர்கள், கூலித் தொழிலாளிகள், கொரோனா ஊரடங்கால் பொருளாதார ரீதியாக பாதித்துள்ளனர். இவர்களுக்கு பொருளாதார உதவி தேவை.

மத்திய, மாநில அரசுத் துறைகள் மற்றும் பொதுத்துறை ஊழியர்கள், ஓய்வூதியர்களுக்கு கொரோனா நிவாரணம் வழங்க, தடை விதிக்க வேண்டும். இவ்வாறு, மனுவில் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளார். இது, விரைவில் விசாரணைக்கு வரும் என தெரிகிறது.

சர்க்கரை கார்டுதாரர்களுக்கும் ரூ.4,000 வழங்க கோரிக்கை

சர்க்கரை கார்டுதாரர்களுக்கும் ரூ.4,000 வழங்க கோரிக்கை

Added : மே 11, 2021 20:36

சென்னை:கொரோனா பாதிப்பு நிவாரணமாக, அரிசி ரேஷன் கார்டுதாரர்களுக்கு, 4,000 ரூபாய் வழங்கப்படுவதை போன்று, சர்க்கரை கார்டுதாரர்களுக்கும் வழங்க வேண்டும் என்ற கோரிக்கை எழுந்துள்ளது.

இது குறித்து சர்க்கரை கார்டுதாரர்கள் கூறியதாவது:சர்க்கரை கார்டுகளை வைத்திருப்போர் எல்லாம் வசதியானவர்கள் அல்ல; அரிசி கார்டுக்கு விண்ணப்பித்த போது, அதை ரத்து செய்த அதிகாரிகள், சர்க்கரை கார்டு வேண்டுமென்றால் வாங்கிக் கொள்ளுங்கள் என்றனர். அதற்காகவே, பலரும் சர்க்கரை கார்டு பெற்றனர். எனவே, சர்க்கரை கார்டுதாரர்களுக்கும் கொரோனா நிவாரண தொகை வழங்க, முதல்வர் ஸ்டாலின் உத்தரவிட வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு அவர்கள் கூறினர்.

கார்டு வழங்குவது நிறுத்தமா?

இதற்கிடையில் புதிய ரேஷன் கார்டு கேட்டு, சமீப நாட்களாக பலர் விண்ணப்பித்து வருகின்றனர். அவர்களுக்கு புதிய கார்டுக்கு ஒப்புதல் அளிக்கும் பணி, நேற்று முன்தினம் முதல் திடீரென நிறுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இது குறித்து பாதிக்கப்பட்டவர்கள் கூறியதாவது: ஏற்கனவே ரேஷன் கார்டுக்கு விண்ணப்பித்தோம். 'தேர்தல் நடத்தை விதி அமலில் உள்ளது; நடத்தை விதிகள் ரத்தானதும் கார்டு வழங்க பரிந்துரைக்கப்படும்' என, உணவு வழங்கல் துறை அதிகாரிகள் கூறினர். தேர்தல் முடிந்தும் கார்டு வழங்கவில்லை.

மீண்டும் அதிகாரிகளிடம் கேட்டால், 'இம்மாதம், 10ம் தேதி முதல், புது கார்டுக்கு, உதவி ஆணையர், வட்ட வழங்கல் அதிகாரிகள் ஒப்புதல் அளிப்பது, தற்காலிகமாக நிறுத்தப்பட்டு உள்ளது. 'நிவாரண தொகை வழங்கும் பணி முடிந்ததும், கார்டுக்கு ஒப்புதல் தரப்படும்' என்கின்றனர்.

குறித்த காலத்தில் ஆய்வு செய்து,ரேஷன் கார்டு வழங்காதது, அதிகாரிகளின் தவறு. தற்போது, கார்டுக்கு ஒப்புதல் தருவது நிறுத்தப்பட்டிருப்பது எந்த வகையில் நியாயம். எனவே, புதிய கார்டுக்கு ஒப்புதல் அளிக்கும் பணியை விரைந்து மேற்கொள்ள, அதிகாரிகளுக்கு அரசு உத்தரவிட வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு அவர்கள் கூறினர்.

உணவுத்துறை அதிகாரிஒருவர் கூறுகையில், 'தகுதியான அனைவருக்கும் புதிய ரேஷன் கார்டு தொடர்ந்து வழங்கப்பட்டு வருகிறது. சிலர் தவறான தகவல்களை பரப்புகின்றனர்' என்றனர்.

என் நுால்களை யாரும் வினியோகிக்க வேண்டாம் அரசு அலுவலர்களுக்கு இறையன்பு வேண்டுகோள்

என் நுால்களை யாரும் வினியோகிக்க வேண்டாம் அரசு அலுவலர்களுக்கு இறையன்பு வேண்டுகோள்

Added : மே 11, 2021 20:35

சென்னை:'அரசு விழாக்களில், அரசு அலுவலர்கள் யாரும், என் நுால்களை, அரசு செலவிலோ, சொந்த செலவிலோ, பூங்கொத்துகளுக்கு பதில் வினியோகிக்க வேண்டாம்' என, தமிழக அரசின் தலைமை செயலர் இறையன்பு, வேண்டுகோள் விடுத்து உள்ளார்.

அவரது அறிக்கை:நான் பணி நேரம் முடிந்த பின்பும், விடுமுறை நாட்களிலும், எனக்கு தெரிந்த தகவல்களை வைத்தும், என் அனுபவங்களை தொகுத்தும், சில நுால்களை எழுதி வந்தேன். அவற்றில் உள்ள பொருண்மை, கடற்கரையில் கண்டெடுத்த சிப்பியையே, முத்தாகக் கருதி சேகரிக்கும் சிறுவனின் உற்சாகத்துடன் எழுதப்பட்டவை.

இப்போதுள்ள பொறுப்பின் காரணமாக, பள்ளி கல்வித்துறைக்கு, ஒரு மடல் எழுதி உள்ளேன். அதில், 'நான் எழுதியுள்ள நுால்களை, எக்காரணம் கொண்டும், எந்த அழுத்தம் வரப்பெற்றாலும், தலைமை செயலராகப் பணியாற்றும் வரை, எந்த திட்டத்தின் கீழும் வாங்கக் கூடாது' என, தெரிவித்துள்ளேன்.

பார்ப்பவர்களுக்கு என் பணியின் காரணமாக, அது திணிக்கப்பட்டிருப்பதாகத் தோன்றி, களங்கம் விளைவிக்கும் என்பதால் தான், இத்தகைய கடிதத்தை எழுதி உள்ளேன். எந்த வகையிலும், என் பெயரோ, பதவியோ தவறாகப் பயன்படுத்தப்படக் கூடாது என்பதே நோக்கம்.அரசு விழாக்களில் பூங்கொத்துக்கு பதிலாக,புத்தகம் வழங்கினால் நன்று என்ற அரசாணை பிறப்பிக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளது. இது, 2006ல் பிறப்பிக்கப்பட்டது.

அரசு விழாக்களில், அரசு அலுவலர்கள் யாரும், என்னை மகிழ்விப்பதாகஎண்ணி, என் நுால்களை, அரசு செலவிலோ, சொந்த செலவிலோ, பரிசாக பூங்கொத்துகளுக்கு பதில் வினியோகிக்க வேண்டாம் என்று, அன்புடன் விண்ணப்பம் வைக்கிறேன்.இவ்வேண்டுகோள் மீறப்பட்டால், அரசு செலவாக இருந்தால், தொடர்புடைய அதிகாரியிடம் அது வசூலிக்கப்பட்டு, அரசு கணக்கில் செலுத்தப்படும். சொந்த செலவு செய்வதையும் தவிர்ப்பது சிறந்தது.

எனவே, இத்தகைய சூழலை, எக்காரணம் கொண்டும் ஏற்படுத்த வேண்டாம்.இவ்வாறு இறையன்பு தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

இந்தியாவுடன் இணைந்து தடுப்பூசி தயாரிக்க அமெரிக்கா ஆர்வம்

இந்தியாவுடன் இணைந்து தடுப்பூசி தயாரிக்க அமெரிக்கா ஆர்வம்

Updated : மே 12, 2021 08:07 | Added : மே 12, 2021 08:05

புதுடில்லி: இந்தியாவுடன் இணைந்து கொரோனாவுக்கு எதிராக தடுப்பூசி தயாரிக்க, அமெரிக்கா ஆர்வமாக உள்ளது.

இந்தியாவுக்கான அமெரிக்க துாதரகத்தின் உயர் அதிகாரி டேனியல் ஸ்மித் கூறியதாவது:கொரோனா இரண்டாவது அலையால் கடுமையாக பாதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள இந்தியாவின் நிலையை பார்த்து, அமெரிக்கா கவலை அடைந்துள்ளது. இந்த நெருக்கடியில் இந்தியாவுக்கு துணை நிற்க, அமெரிக்க அரசு உறுதி எடுத்துள்ளது.

இ ந்தியாவுடன் இணைந்து தடுப்பூசி தயாரிக்க வேண்டும் என்பதில் அமெரிக்கா ஆர்வமாக உள்ளது. சீரம் நிறுவனம், கோவிஷீல்டு தடுப்பூசி தயாரிப்பது போல், ஜான்சன் அண்ட் ஜான்சன் நிறுவனத்துடன் இணைந்து, இந்தியாவில் தடுப்பூசி தயாரிப்பதற்கான வழிகளை அமெரிக்கா ஆய்வு செய்து வருகிறது. இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார்.

IT companies use biz uptick to reward staff

IT companies use biz uptick to reward staff

Shilpa.Phadnis@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:12.05.2021 

Many IT companies are giving a second round of salary increases and promotions within months of the previous one. Last year’s salary increment had initially been deferred on account of the pandemic and business downturn. But as business picked up in the second half of the year, increments were given with effect from late last calendar year or early this year. Now, with intense competition for talent, companies are rewarding employees again.

Accenture India, which has over 2 lakh employees, had its annual December increments, bonuses and promotions, and an added round of promotions in February this year. “In April, all our people up through associate director level received a one-time ‘thank you bonus’ equal to one week of base pay for their contributions during this difficult year. Additionally, we have expanded our annual mid-year promotions this coming June to include managing directors — a first in our company’s history — as one more way we continue to create new opportunities for our people,” Accenture India told TOI. In December last year, Accenture globally promoted 605 people to MD, and 63 people to senior MD, including a record percentage of women.

Infosys EVP & HR head Richard Lobo said its second compensation review cycle for the year is under way. It had given increments effective January, after having put them on hold for most of the last fiscal. It is doing another review based on last year’s performance, and the salary hike based on this will be effective July. Both compensation reviews are applicable to employees across levels. The quantum of hike is a factor of role and performance. The two increments together will be 10-14%, in an otherwise languid pay market.

Infosys’s move follows that of TCS, which too gave hikes within a six-month gap. TCS has given increments to all associates across geographies effective April. Sources told TOI that many senior employees received hikes in the range of 6-8%, higher than normal.

Wipro CEO Thierry Delaporte said in the latest earnings call that measures are in place to ensure the supply chain does not slow its pace of growth and it includes the rollout of “much-deserved” salary increases for his senior colleagues in June. The quantum of the hikes is yet to be decided. Salary hikes for employees in band C1 (managers and above) that was due in June last year had been deferred. But the company paid out 100% variable pay to all employees in each of the past three quarters because of business pick-up.

HCL, which normally gives salary increments effective July, had deferred it by one quarter last year. But this year it expects to return to the regular cycle. “On average, we rolled out 7-8% hikes last year, but those were higher at the bottom of the pyramid,” chief HR officer Apparao V V said.

Harshvendra Soin, global chief people officer in Tech Mahindra, said it recently completed the appraisal cycle and has announced salary hikes, in line with the industry, with effect from April 1. “The letters are being rolled out. We have also introduced retention bonus for key talent and have announced skill-based allowances for associates with niche skills and projectbased bonuses,” he said.

With competition for talent increasing, companies are rewarding employees again

From 1.2L a day, Tirumala footfall drops to 2.4k

From 1.2L a day, Tirumala footfall drops to 2.4k

Tirupati:12.05.2021 

Pilgrim footfall at Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirumala on Monday reported an all-time low of 2,400. This is perhaps the lowest ever in the history of the temple.

With the surging Covid-19 cases leading to full and partial lockdowns in many parts of the country, including in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the flow of devotees to the hill temple has dried up considerably over the last few weeks. While the temple was closed during the lockdown in the first wave of Covid-19 during March-June 2020, soon after its reopening the temple recorded an average footfall of 8,000 pilgrims.

Tirumala temple is famous for its large turnout of pilgrims round the year, the numbers often touching 1.25 lakh on weekends and festivals. Never in its history the temple had witnessed a pilgrim turnout less than 8,000 a day.

Now, though the TTD is allowing devotees with darshan tickets to enter Tirumala even after 12 noon, when the 18-hour partial curfew announced by the state government comes into force, people have been reluctant to visit the temple during these pandemic times.

While just 2,400 devotees visited the temple on Monday, about 1,375 devotees got their heads tonsured as part of fulfilment of their vows. The low pilgrim footfall also saw the temple’s hundi collections dip to an all-time low of 24 lakh. The hundi collection on normal days hovers between Rs 3 crore to Rs 5 crore daily. Even during the first wave Covid-19 restrictions the hundi collection never dropped below Rs 1 crore a day.

Officials expect a further dip in the pilgrim footfall as Telangana government on Tuesday announced near-lockdown restricting public movement. TNN

Hosp debarred for charging ₹10L from patient who died during treatment

Hosp debarred for charging ₹10L from patient who died during treatment

Agra:12.05.2021 

Arun Kansal, a 62-year-old resident of Agra, died while being treated for Covid at Ravi hospital and his family was charged a bill of Rs 9.6 lakh. This was found to be in violation of the rates fixed by the state government for the treatment of Covid patients, and the hospital has been debarred from further admissions.

Following a complaint made by the patient’s family, and an initial investigation, district magistrate Prabhu N Singh has debarred the hospital from admitting Covid-19 patients. A showcause notice has also been issued to the hospital, which is owned by the former district president of Indian Medical Association, Dr Ravi Mohan Pachori. Action will be taken against the hospital if it fails to reply, said officials. TNN

Kumbh returnee, 67, infects 33 in B’luru

Kumbh returnee, 67, infects 33 in B’luru

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:12.05.2021 

A 67-year-old woman who returned from Kumbh Mela tested positive for Covid in the first week of April and ended up infecting 33 persons, including 13 psychiatric patients at Spandana Healthcare and Rehabilitation Centre, near Nandini Layout, in west Bengaluru.

The Mahalakshmi Layout resident’s 40-year-old daughter-in-law, a psychiatrist with Spandana, had no symptoms and was treating 13 patients. A couple of days after her mother-in-law tested positive, the doctor got herself tested only to find she, too, was Covid positive.

The hospital tested all her contacts, and 13 patients and two staffers were found positive. BBMP officers from Nandini Layout came rushing to the hospital for inspection as it was a cluster case. In all, 18 family members of the Kumbh returnee were found to be infected.

Patients didn’t have severe symptoms, recovered now

The woman was admitted to a private hospital. She has since recovered as she had moderate infection.

A BBMP medical officer from Nandini Layout primary health centre said the index case was the psychiatrist. “None of the infected had severe symptoms and they were treated in their facility itself. As we traced further, we found the source was a Kumbh returnee from the psychiatrist’s family,” the doctor told TOI.

Dr Mahesh R Gowda, who heads Spandana, said with three employees and 13 patients testing positive, they had to close a floor and become more of a Covid hospital. The hospital now has 31 patients from outside.

All the patients of Spandana have recovered and they did not end up spreading the virus as they were isolated well in time. “However, we don’t know if the 18 family members further spread the virus to others,” said Dr Gowda.

The psychiatrist was asymptomatic and developed symptoms of Covid later, requiring hospitalisation. “Our colleague stopped coming to the hospital after her mother-in-law tested positive,” Dr Gowda said.

There are no details on how many from the state attended Kumbh and if they took a test on their return. Experts had advised the government to track the Kumbh returnees .

A third or fourth wave is natural for new viruses, says professor R M Pitchappan, a pioneer in human immunogenetics, but preparation for them is key. In an interview with Padmini Sivarajah, the visiting professor at Madurai Kamaraj University dispels fears about the vaccine and mutations.

A third or fourth wave is natural for new viruses, says professor R M Pitchappan, a pioneer in human immunogenetics, but preparation for them is key. In an interview with Padmini Sivarajah, the visiting professor at Madurai Kamaraj University dispels fears about the vaccine and mutations.

12.05.2021 

The principal scientific adviser to the Government of India has warned of a third wave. What is your opinion?

Yes, it is possible that there may be a third wave. In any new viral or vectorborne disease it is always seasonal and episodic, it takes a few cycles for the infection to die out. We cannot wait for herd immunity and all precautions have to be taken. We must also keep in mind that the pandemic will die down like the spread of hepatitis 20 years ago.

It is feared that the third wave will affect children. Can it be overcome?

There is no evidence yet that the third wave will affect children alone. Children, except newborns till a few months, have a robust immune response capable of responding to most infections. There is no need to panic it can be overcome with care and vaccination. Children might require a low volume of vaccine due to their size and immune system. Pharma industries should think of systematically procuring and marketing it, but it is a laborious process. Passive therapy from convalescent plasma is another option.

Can the present Indian vaccines be administered to children?

Theoretically the same vaccine should work in children, maybe with some dosage adjustments, but adverse reaction trials have to be done before implementing it. The government agencies should give the nod for trials and make the vaccine available for children. In a country where polio has been eradicated, it is possible to tackle Covid. Proper planning to vaccinate children and opening schools need to be made. The immune system of children may be less experienced, but it is not less competent than that of an adult.

There is a shortage of antiviral drugs. There are also conflicting reports on the usefulness of these drugs.

A recent literature shows none of the drugs used as on date including these antivirals provide 100% efficacy in saving a life. The Indian vaccine manufacturers have scaled up their production. Yesterday, DCGI approved anti-Covid drug, 2-deoxy-D-glucose developed by DRDO for emergency use in moderate to severe Covid patients as an adjunct therapy. The new drug reduces oxygen dependence and faster recovery.

What about alternate medicines?

Researchers from Germany and India have identified Thymoquinone from Nigella Sativa (“Karunseeragam” in Tamil) having antiviral properties. It is also antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory. The drug can be synthesised in the laboratory. India with its vast scientific community and pharma should aim at such innovative, native medicines. This can become an affordable alternative, preventive and therapeutic like the siddha ‘kabasura kuidineer’ being attempted in various parts of the country.

People contracting Covid-19 after both doses is raising concern.

The severity is less in people who contract the disease after vaccination. But if they succumb to the disease then these cases should be studied for demographic profile, medical history, nutritional status and co-morbidities. Linking the cases and data to the Aadhaar number, proper follow-up and introspection will help in policy making.

With the virus mutating fast, will these vaccines help?

Antibodies generated due to vaccines may neutralise the virus to some extent if they have not mutated further in the host. The immune system also has other antibodies such as cytotoxic lympohocytes that tackle infection and help in long term immunity.

Re-exam will set wrong precedent, say academics

Re-exam will set wrong precedent, say academics

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:12.05.2021 

Conducting a re-exam for four lakh engineering students and changing the proctored online test to an unsupervised online test like in other universities will set a wrong precedent, say academicians.

The government directed the university to conduct a reexam following complaints that only 1.1 lakh of the 2.3 lakh students whose results were declared cleared it. Results of nearly two lakh students were withheld for suspected malpractices.

Higher education minister K Ponmudi on Monday said withholding so many results was itself an irregularity, but professors who were part of the inquiry committee said many students resorted to malpractices. “Around 80% took online test from mobile phones. Without knowing their screen was recorded, they frequently changed screen and shared answers. They formed WhatsApp groups, Telegram groups to share answers. Some even took help of friends and siblings. Some pasted a mobile phone to their laptops to cheat,” said one.

An Anna University professor said the previous government wanted to give allpass to students with arrears without exams. “The new government wants to give all pass to students by allowing them to write an unsupervised exam.”

Former vice-chancellor of Anna University E Balagurusamy said the online system cannot be termed wrong because many failed. “The proctored online test was an example for all state universities. Results of students suspected to have been involved in malpractices were withheld.”

The online test conducted by other universities is not at all an exam, he said. “Students receive question papers on WhatsApp, write exams from home and post the answer scripts. The examination is not monitored.”

G Shanmugam, former registrar of University of Madras, said conducting a nonproctored online exam led to mass copying and other malpractices. “Asking Anna University to conduct re-exam following methods of other universities is not good.”

Students and colleges, however, welcomed the move.

M Sangeetha, a third-year engineering student from Trichy with a CGPA of 8.2 in past three years, failed in 5 of 6 papers in the fifth semester. “I was comfortable with descriptive mode, but I could not suddenly adapt to the multiple choice online test,” she said.

(With inputs from Sambath Kumar )

298 deaths, 29,272 cases in TN; 7,466 in Chennai

298 deaths, 29,272 cases in TN; 7,466 in Chennai

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:12.05.2021 

Tamil Nadu reported 298 deaths and 29,272 cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday, when 1.6 lakh people were under treatment for the viral infection. The cumulative toll touched 16,178 and the case tally reached 14.3 lakh on a day 19,182 people were discharged from the registry.

Hotspot Chennai

Nearly one in every four persons tested positive on Tuesday were from hotspot Chennai. The city added 7,466 new cases of Covid-19. Together, with Chengalpet (2419), Tiruvallur (1204) and Kancheepuram (664), Chennai region reported 11,753 new cases. After Chennai, the highest number of new cases were from Coimbatore (2650). In the South, Madurai and Kanyakumari reported 1024 and 995 cases respectively. While all districts in the state had more than 100 cases, five districts reported more than 1,000 cases, at least 15 reported less than 500 cases each. At the end of the day, Chennai had 37713 active cases, followed by Coimbatore (14324) and Chengalpet (12038).

Spike in deaths

The number of deaths have been increasing rapidly in the state. The state has added 1,000 deaths to the registry in the last four days. It took the state 115 days to add 1,000 deaths from around 12,000 deaths on December 22. Two weeks later, on April 30 the toll increased to 14,000 and a week later, on May 7 it crossed the 15,000 mark. "The doubling period for deaths too has been dropping drastically," said senior public health officials.

Lack of beds

Through the day many people made frantic calls to the state helpline 104, dialed emergency rooms of hospitals and called friends and family seeking admissions in various hospitals. While just 17% of the beds in the state were vacant, according to data from DPH, there were less than 10% oxygen beds and 6% ICU beds available. Almost all oxygen and ICU beds in Chengalpet, Dharmapuri and Ranipet were taken for most parts of the day. Getting an ICU bed was a struggle in districts such as Chennai, Coimbatore, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Vellore.

Needed, more shots

Even as cases continue to spike, health care providers and frontline workers in the state continue to remain vulnerable to the infection. Less than 60% of healthcare providers and 42% of frontline workers in Tamil Nadu who took their first dose are now fully vaccinated.

Overall 73% of healthcare providers and 88% of frontline workers have taken their first dose, but they could still be vulnerable as they have not completed the course. The number of people in the 60+ age group and those above 44(with comorbidity) who have taken the second doses is between 35-40%. On Tuesday, 79,929 people took the vaccine in Tamil Nadu.

This included 26,264 senior citizens, 40,534 people above the age of 45, 4,326 healthcare providers and 8,805 frontline workers.

In TN, virus is killing young people with no comorbidities

In TN, virus is killing young people with no comorbidities

No Scientific Reason Yet About Why Young People Are Dying

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  12.05.2021 

More young and healthy people —without comorbid conditions and below 40 years — are now dying of Covid-19 in Tamil Nadu, directorate of public health data shows.

On January 10, when TN’s Covid death toll reached 12,222, around 18% (2,084) were those without any comorbidities. By May 9, such people accounted for 6063 of the 15,648 deaths (39%). On Tuesday, 78 of the 298 people who died in the state had no comorbid conditions.

“In absolute numbers, deaths are still high among people above 50 years of age and among people with uncontrolled diabetes or hypertension. But during the last four to six weeks, we are seeing more young and healthy people in ICUs,” said Kilpauk Medical College Hospital dean Dr Vasanthamani P. “Some of them don’t make it.”

On Tuesday, five of the 298 who died were in their 20s and had no comorbid conditions. Of the people in their 30s, were a 30-year-old man and 37-year-old woman with diabetes, a 38-yearold man with hypertension and another man with chronic kidney disease. At least 21 of the 48 people in their 40s had no comorbid conditions.

Between January and May, the growth rate of deaths was highest (37%) among people in the 31-40 age group. On January 10, there were 456 deaths in this age group and 623 on May 9. In the same period, deaths in the 20-30 age group rose from 142 to 187, by 31%. Overall deaths jumped by 28% from 12,222 to 15,648. Since then, 8 people in their 20s and 35 people in their 30s have died.

Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital dean Dr Theranirajan said, “We have been able to reduce morbidity and mortality in people who reach hospitals early.”

Experts say that while more people below 40 years are juggling for space in ICUs with senior citizens, they don’t know why more young and healthy people are dying. “We don’t have any scientific reasons for this yet. We don’t know if the profile of young people we see now is from a better socio-economic background with higher risk of lifestyle disorders,” said senior infectious diseases expert Dr V Ramasubramanian.

Between January and May, the growth rate of deaths in Tamil Nadu as per official data was highest (37%) among people in the 31-40 age group

Don’t fret if 2nd dose delayed, say experts

Don’t fret if 2nd dose delayed, say experts

Neha Madaan & Sumitra DebRoy TNN

Pune/Mumbai:

First-dose recipients of Covaxin don't need to restart their vaccination schedule if the gap between doses goes beyond the recommended 4-6-week interval, a top public health official has said. Experts also stressed that delay in taking a second dose of Covishield or Covaxin does not render the first shot ineffective. An estimated 5 lakh people in Maharashtra are awaiting the second shot of Covaxin alone.

Dr N K Arora, member of the National Committee on Adverse Events Following Immunisation, said recipients should not worry if the second dose is delayed. “We know there are many single-dosers whose second shots have been delayed. They need not be worried. Even if gap between two doses increases to 8-10 weeks, in case of any of the two vaccines, beneficiaries can take the second shot and it will still be effective. There is no need to repeat the vaccine schedule due to a delayed second dose,” he said.

JAB EFFECT: Delay in getting second dose does not make the first ineffective, say experts

‘Advisable for senior citizens to avoid crowded vax centres’

Counselling recipients to not panic, immunologist Dr Vineeta Bal from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune said the first dose has already triggered an immune response which does not disappear because of the delay, only that it’s not optimum, and hence the second dose is needed.

“Abooster (second)doseessentially increases the quality and quantity of the first dose response,” she said, adding that it may be advisable for senior citizens to avoid crowded vaccination centres since there is a real possibility of catching the infection there. The first dose remains in the body but also has its own limited half-life.

All antibodies produced are proteins that get degraded within the body whether used or not used. “So, the immune response generated by the first dose may possibly start tapering off after 4-5 months,” Bal added.

The duration between two Covishield doses was increased from 4 weeks to 12 weeks primarily based on data from international trials where after a first dose the immune response was measured until the second dose was given. “In some cases, due to trial related issues, the second dose was given as late as 12 weeks and still the effect of the first dose was pretty much okay,” she added.

For Covaxin, such a variation in the duration between first and second dose was not tested in human beings though.

“The makers had uniformly tested at the end of four weeks. That’s why everybody is recommending booster for Covaxin at the end of 28 days. Theoretically, if there is enough response that lasted for four weeks, maybe it will last up to the fifth week too. But we don’t know that since there is no data,” Bal added.

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A deserted Har ki Pauri ghat on Vaishakh Amavasya on Tuesday

Those taking 2nd shots are priority: Govt

The Centre on Tuesday insisted that those eligible for the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine should be given priority and that vaccination wastage should be minimised. Expressing concern over the misinformation on the subject of vaccination, Cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba mentioned that all vaccines that are procured either by the central government or the state governments are actually meant for the public in the states and there is no consumption at the central-level. PTI