Covid-19 patients can’t have visitors, attenders: DPH

Covid-19 patients can’t have visitors, attenders: DPH

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:16.05.2021 

The directorate of public health has prohibited visitors or attenders for Covid-19 patients admitted to isolation wards in dedicated Covid care hospitals, institutions and health centres to avoid further spread of the infection.

The order from the director of public health Dr T S Selvavinayagam directs hospitals to set up information desks for relatives to know about a patient's condition.

With increasing number of Covid-19 patients, government hospitals including tertiary care medical college hospitals such as Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital have been asking patient attenders to sit by the patients’ bedsides, in high-infection zones such as Covid-19 isolation wards and intensive care units. A family member sits by the side of patients without adequate PPEs, masks, gloves or face shields and monitors the patient's vital parameters such as saturation levels, feeds them and even walks them to the restroom.

While hospital administrators and doctors quote a shortage of nursing staff, Dr Selvavinayagam said permitting attendants can take infection back into the community. Over the past month, the state has found that 8-10% of fresh infections detected every day were picked up during patient visits or stays. Such attendees can also turn super spreaders when they travel between hospital and home. "If, due to unavoidable circumstances, attender visit or stay is essential, they should follow all Covid appropriate behaviour as directed by the head of the department or health officials. The attender’s health should be protected by giving him or her PPEs,” he said.

Covid-19 has been declared as a notified disease in Tamil Nadu under Section 62 of the TN Public Health Act, 1939 . “Under rule 71 (1) and (2) of the Act, exposure of other people to the infection is prohibited,” he said. While the order does not specify punishments for violation, legal experts say the rules permit the government to punish violators with imprisonment of up to three months or penalise them or do both.

State issues order as data shows 8-10% of fresh infections picked up from visiting patients

Covishield dose gap decision based on experts’ view: Govt

Covishield dose gap decision based on experts’ view: Govt

Decision Not Taken Under Pressure Or Due To Shortage: Dr V K Paul

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:16.05.2021 

The government said that the decision to increase the gap between first and second dose of Covishield vaccine to 12-16 weeks was based on assessment of experts and no controversy be created over suspected shortages of the shots.

The government stood by the decision even as UK decided to shorten the gap between the first and second doses of Covishield to eight weeks. The government said the vaccine expert group’s assessment is that even a single dose of vaccine is 60-85% effective in disease prevention (collectively for mild, moderate and severe) and inhibits transmissibility.

Officials did say the government will study the basis of the decision taken by UK while reversing the interval to eight weeks. The Centre had said the experience of UK based on actual vaccinations rather than limited studies was the basis of the Indian decision to increase the interval from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks.

“They are taking decisions based on their situation, mutant, pandemic...We have taken it as per our risk epidemiology. We are driven by science. It is a dynamic process,” Niti Aayog, member-health Dr V K Paul said, adding, “If the science changes tomorrow we will move forward accordingly.”

UK on Friday reversed the gap between the first and second dose of Covishield to eight weeks from12 for all those over the age of 50 and the clinically vulnerable. UK cited concerns regarding B.1.617 variant, detected first in India, behind its decision.

Dr Paul also refuted that the decision to increase the time interval between two doses of Covishield vaccine to12-16 weeks was taken under any pressure or due to shortage.

“Independent scientists in our institutes have taken these decisions after studying the data to reduce the risk of infection in the Indian population,” Dr Paul said, referring to the recommendations of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation.

NEED OF THE HOUR: Despite heavy rain due to cyclone Tauktae, hundreds of people wait for vaccination in Mangaluru on Saturday

Couple murder daughter, 5, commit suicide in Salem dist

Couple murder daughter, 5, commit suicide in Salem dist

Salem:  16.05.2021 

A couple hanged to death after murdering their daughter at their house near Annadhanapatty here on Saturday. Police are yet to ascertain the reason that forced them to take the extreme step.

The Annadhanapatty police identified the deceased as K Gopinath, 31, of Maankuttai area, his wife G Pavithra, 29, and daughter G Nanditha, 5.

A police officer said Gopinath was working with a bakery in the city, while his wife was a homemaker.

He said it was Gopinath's mother K Sengamalam, 60, who first saw the couple hanging from the ceiling of their house. “She went to visit them on Saturday evening. She knocked on the door several times, but there was no response from inside. She waited for around 30 minutes and peeped through the window gap only to see her son and daughter-in-law hanging from the ceiling.”

She immediately alerted the Salem city police. Subsequently, Annadhanapatty police inspector Ramesh and team rushed to the spot and broke into the house. “We found Nanditha dead on the floor. The couple seemed to have strangulated her after feeding her food laced with poison,” the officer said.

Preliminary inquiry revealed that Gopinath was suffering from breathlessness since May 9. “He was taking treatment at the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital. Gopinath was looking upset after his health deteriorated,” the officer said.

The Annadhanapatty police have registered a case and initiated inquiry. TNN

People crowd PDS counters for ₹2,000 dole

People crowd PDS counters for ₹2,000 dole

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

16.05.2021 

Long queues and crowds were the highlights of the government’s distribution of ₹2,000 Covid-19 relief to family card holders in the state which kicked off on Saturday, raising questions about the method chosen for handing over the dole when the pandemic is raging. However finance minister P T R Palanivel Thiagarajan said the government wanted to hand over the relief as early as possible.

In Kannankurichi town panchayat in Salem district, hundreds of DMK cadres surrounded Salem MP S R Parthiban, Salem (north) MLA R Rajendran and district collector S A Raman when they handed over the money to beneficiaries. “Was this an event to distribute the dole or spread Covid-19,” asked BJP state treasurer S R Sekhar who also pointed out that at several places card holders gathered without maintaining social distance.

Questions have been asked whether the government couldn’t have deposited the amount in the card holder’s bank account as in the case of central government schemes. Finance minister P T R Palanivel Thiagarajan said in Madurai there had been suggestions about giving the assistance in some other way. ``But it would have taken time, and we know there are problems with the Aadhaar system. This was the way in which it could be done in the fastest mode,’’ he said.

Citing macro economic theory, the minister, who is Madurai central MLA, said people’s money should rightfully reach them when there is a need. ``Tamil Nadu has seen many outstanding chief ministers, and chief minister M K Stalin is proving that he is as good and even better by swinging into action as soon as he assumed office,’’ he said President of Tamil Nadu Makkal Urimai Katchi (TNMUK) Poomozhi appealed to the chief minister not to resort to such a blunder while distributing grocery kits to card holders, supposed to start on June 3.

Meanwhile, an official release said the distribution of Covid relief from PDS outlets will be held on Sunday too. Cardholders who received tokens could collect the amount between 8am and 12noon.

Minister for Commercial Taxes P Moorthy distributed the dole in Chettikulam and said that as many as 8.99 lakh people will benefit from the scheme in Madurai district. Food and civil supplies minister R Sakkarapani launched the distribution in Coimbatore. He said there were as many as 10.18 lakh card holders in the district out of which about 2.17 lakh received it. As many as 1.78 lakh of the 8.1 lakh card holders in Trichy district were given the aid on the first day.

INVITING DANGER: DMK workers surround MP S R Parthiban in Salem on Saturday to collect the ₹2,000 dole

15-day lockdown to cost state nearly ₹2,900 crore

15-day lockdown to cost state nearly ₹2,900 crore

Yogesh.Kabirdoss@timesgroup.com

Chennai:16.05.2021

The 15-day complete lockdown, which was intensified from Saturday, will cost the state government at least ₹2,900 crore in revenue. It may have a partial impact on the government's expenditure in the event if the intensified lockdown is extended beyond May 24. To compensate the revenue loss, the government could effect a revision in liquor prices, which has not been hiked for the past one year, say financial experts.

Usually, Tasmac liquor shops and registration offices would have collectively contributed revenue of nearly ₹2,500 crore in 15 days. Of this, property registrations account for an average of ₹500 crore.

The loss of the registration department is based on the three months’ revenue through land registrations. Since February, property registrations brought in an income exceeding ₹1,000 crore every month. Losses through royalty from mines is estimated to be another ₹25 crore for a fortnight, according to official sources with the mines department.

Fuel stations are said to be witnessing a drop in sale of petrol and diesel by about 70% to 75%. The corresponding VAT and other service taxes loss for the state is at least ₹386 crore in 15 days. The losses on VAT and service taxes is for approximately 3,675 fuel stations of the 4,900 fuel stations functioning in Tamil Nadu, which records an average sale of about1.5 lakh litres of petrol and diesel per month.

City-based fuel station dealer Suresh said the volume of sale in petrol and diesel now was just 25% to 30% of the normal sale.

Former state chief internal auditor and ex-treasurer of the Tamil Nadu Government Employees Union A Mohan said about 60% of government revenue receipts is spent towards salary, pensions and those relating to government’s administrative expenditure. The remaining 40% goes to various welfare measures.

Noting that the major spending for the present government will be for public health and sanitation, he said, “The immediate partial impact will be on public health because there could be no major expenditure during this period in the other sectors.”

Tasmac is the only source of revenue post lockdown. “After lifting the lockdown, there could be an increase in liquor because that will not lead to a public outcry. If the government is going to increase taxes on fuel that will become an issue,” he said. Liquor prices were revised twice in 2020 including increasing15% on excise revenue.

SRM institute donates ₹1.1 crore to CM for Covid relief

SRM institute donates ₹1.1 crore to CM for Covid relief

Chennai:16.05.2021 

SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) has donated ₹1.1 crore to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund (TNCMPRF) to support the government’s efforts to contain the spread of the second wave of the Covid-19 virus.

The institute’s pro-chancellor (academics) P Sathyanarayanan, chairman of the Ramapuram campus R Shivakumar and cochairman S Niranjan met chief minister M K Stalin and handed over the contribution. Founder-chancellor of the SRM Group of Institutions, and Member of Parliament T R Paarivendhar said the amount donated was a generous contribution from all employees working on the Kattankulathur, Vadapalani, Ramapuram, Trichy campuses, and all other institutions under Valliammai Society to curb the spread of coronavirus. TNN

Crowding by food delivery agents a cause of concern

Crowding by food delivery agents a cause of concern

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:16.05.2021 

Crowding outside restaurants by food delivery agents has become a cause of concern as in many places, the agents wait without any physical distancing and some of them do not wear masks properly increasing the risk of spreading the coronavirus.

With food delivery agents being allowed to function through the day and some coming in touch with customers while delivery, it is pertinent for authorities to issue strict guidelines for them, say residents.

Last year, food delivery agents were allowed to deliver groceries and meat. This year, they have not been delivering groceries, but deliver from meat stalls. “There are several photographs in newspapers and on social media of food delivery agents flouting physical distancing norms outside restaurants. There is a chance of them becoming asymptomatic carriers and infect their friends and family and also their customers too,” said P Gokul, a resident of Velachery.

A food delivery agent acknowledged the crowding at some small restaurants as there are not enough facilities for them to wait, especially during afternoon when it becomes difficult to wait under the sun. “Some restaurants keep water outside. But, we cannot expect the same everywhere and also we get incentives based on good ratings, so we try and deliver as quickly as possible,” he said.

Residents said the civic body should hold a meeting with restaurants to ensure that food delivery agents follow Covid protocols. “We need everybody’s co-operation in fighting the pandemic including the public. The eatery owners should take onus to ensure that such crowding does not happen outside their restaurants. We will instruct our zonal teams to regulate the issue,” said a senior civic body official.

AT RISK

59-year-old dodges 2nd jab of wrong vax after staff points out cert mix-up

59-year-old dodges 2nd jab of wrong vax after staff points out cert mix-up

—Umesh K Parida

15.05.2021 

A 59-year-old resident from Navi Mumbai managed to avoid getting inoculated by two different vaccines after an alert health centre staff pointed out the mix-up in the certificate.

Shirishkumar Salunkhe, a Kamothe resident, got his first dose at the primary health centre in Kalamboli, where he was given a certificate which stated that he had received a jab of Covishield. The goof-up came to light when Salunkhe’s son, Vijay, approached the Kamothe health centre for his father’s second dose.

The Kamothe centre staff told him that the batch number mentioned in the first dose was that of Covaxin and asked him to go back to the Kalamboli centre. The Kalamboli centre staff admitted the mistake and the retired Army havildar was eventually administered the second dose of Covaxin at the NMMC hospital in Vashi on May 13, as the primary health centres had run out of stock by then.

“The Kalamboli health centre’s staff did not tell me the name of the vaccine,” said Salunkhe.

“The certificate downloaded from the app for the first dose on March 18 at Kalamboli centre mentions Covishield. I had to stand in the queue for eight hours at the Kamothe centre on May 6 for the second dose only to be told that I needed to take Covaxin. After the Kalamboli staff checked out the batch numbers and confirmed, they updated the information on the app,” said Vijay.

“When Salunkhe was administered the first dose, Covaxin stock had just arrived for the first time. Therefore, there was confusion. No one consulted me about the app updates,” said Dr Ravi Kumar, who was at the Kalamboli health centre during the mix-up.

Not Forcing Anyone To Use App, Users Free To Leave; Aarogya Setu, IRCTC Have Similar Privacy Policy: WhatsApp Tells Delhi High Court

Not Forcing Anyone To Use App, Users Free To Leave; Aarogya Setu, IRCTC Have Similar Privacy Policy: WhatsApp Tells Delhi High Court: In an affidavit filed before the Delhi High Court, WhatsApp has submitted that its newly updated privacy policy (of the year 2021) does not affect the privacy of personal messages (of its users)...

NMC revokes order on MBBS graduate' internship

NMC revokes order on MBBS graduate' internship

TNN | May 13, 2021, 12.22 PM IST

MUMBAI: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has withdrawn an order passed on May 10 restricting MBBS graduates from private medical colleges to pursue their internship from government colleges and vice-versa, which was contrary to their earlier directive issued on March 31. The advisory dated May 10 had created confusion among graduates who had already started the procedure to register themselves with colleges.

The March 31 advisory issued by the NMC had allowed graduates to intern from any NMC-approved medical college. An official from one of the government colleges said, “In the May 10 order, however, they said internship should be completed in medical colleges where the students graduated. Additionally, they said that mutual transfer of internship is possible under exceptional situations only between government colleges or only between private colleges and that no interns can exchange between private and government colleges or vice-versa.”

An official from the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) said that they got a mail withdrawing the May 10 advisory on Wednesday evening.

Simran Kapoor, an MBBS graduate, said that if all the students are graduating from colleges affiliated to MUHS and are taking the same exam, there should not be any discrimination after they graduate, especially when we are in a pandemic and government hospitals need more doctors. Students should be allowed to take up internships closer home, based on the requirement.

Second Covid wave proved to be a massive killer

Second Covid wave proved to be a massive killer

Five-Fold Rise In Deaths During April Compared To Last Year

Nimesh.Khakhariya@timesgroup.com

Rajkot:15.05.2021

The number deaths registered in four cities of Gujarat, especially Rajkot, in April have almost tripled or quadrupled compared to the same month last year, indicating the high mortality caused by the monstrous spike in Covid-19 in the second wave.

The average death figures every month in Rajkot city till March was reported to be between 1,000 and 1500. However, when the second wave hit, the city registered a massive fivefold rise in mortalities in the month of April alone. Official data of Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) reveals that 6,600 people died in 30 days. In the first 10 days of May, nearly 3,000 deaths have been reported.

Going by the figures, nearly 220 people died every day in the month of April, which includes death from Covid-19, natural deaths, accidental deaths and suicide. RMC gets the death entries from hospitals and the mortuary vans of the fire department of all those who have died in the city jurisdiction. However, there are large number of people from the rural areas of Rajkot and other districts who take treatment for Covid-19 in the city.

A senior officer of RMC’s birth and death office told TOI: “We got entry of 6,651 deaths on our portal from April 1-30 from various hospitals out of which 3,582 were males and 3,069 females. A total of 4,475 people approached us for registration of their relatives deaths.”

As per rule, a person has to report the death of a relative to the RMC registrar within 30 days. In the first 10 days of May, 2,245 people have registered deaths of their relatives while the civic body got entries of nearly 3,000 deaths from various hospitals. According to RMC data, the highest deaths of 3,025 were registered in September last year followed by 2,301 deaths in December 2020.

A number of doctors whom TOI spoke to said that many people died as they could not get beds in hospitals, medicine and oxygen. In Vadodara too, the average number of deaths registered in the months of March and April this year have increased significantly due to the pandemic. In April, particularly, the numbers are scary with mortalities shooting to over three times as compared to 2020. Officials said that besides the obvious increase due to the pandemic, deaths of patients from outside the city in local hospitals is a major contributor. These include patients from not only Gujarat, but also outside the state. In 2020, despite the pandemic the number of deaths had gone down largely due to the lockdown. Other ailments had also spared the citizens. Surat also registered almost double the average monthly deaths during April compared to past years. According to Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) officials, the numbers are high due to Covid-19 while deaths were less in April last year due to lockdown.

"Of the total recorded deaths in the city, nearly 25% are of Covid-19 patients who died in the city but they were residents of other places outside city or state," said an official.

The average daily death registrations in Ahmedabad have gone up to175 from124 in April.

(with inputs from Sachin Sharma in Vadodara, Yagnesh Mehta in Surat and Himanshu Kaushik in Ahmedabad)

Tahsildar performs woman’s last rites after family says no

SHOT OF HOPE

Tahsildar performs woman’s last rites after family says no

Ranganath K TNN

Tumakuru:15.05.2021

A government official stepped forward to cremate a woman who had died of Covid-related complications after her family allegedly refused to perform the last rites.

Tumakuru taluk tahsildar Mohan Kumar GV, his staff members Shivanna and Devaraju and others wore personal protection equipment (PPE) kits and moved the woman’s body from Kuppuru village to the cremation site on Wednesday.

The woman, Jayamma, tested positive after visiting a neighbour who had Covid-19 a fortnight ago. Jayamma’s son, Manjunath, a mason, then got everyone in the family tested. Only Jayamma and her husband were diagnosed with the disease. Soon, Manjunath left the house with his wife and children. ASHA workers provided medicines and food packets to the elderly couple, who also have three married daughters, but two days later, Jayamma’s condition worsened and she was rushed to a hospital in Tumakuru.

After a week of treatment, she was discharged on Tuesday and returned to her village. The next morning, she passed away. Mohan Kumar tried to persuade the family members to give her a dignified farewell, but they reportedly feared contracting coronavirus infection. Mohan Kumar then decided to cremate her. Revenue inspector Shivanna P accompanied him.

Meanwhile, Umakanth, commissioner, Tiptur CMC, has performed the last rites of at least three Covid-19 patients who had no known kin.

Don’t worry if you miss your date with second dose of Covishield

A SHOT OF HOPE Ask The Experts

Don’t worry if you miss your date with second dose of Covishield

The Union health ministry on Thursday increased the interval between the shots from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks for Covishield, but no change has been suggested for the dosage interval of Covaxin by the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation. Hence, it is advisable that you don’t delay the 2nd dose of Covaxin

I had Covid within a week of my first vaccine dose. When can I take the second? What is the maximum permissible gap between shots?

—MAYUR NAYAK, BENGALURU

The recommendation is to wait for 4-8 weeks after recovering from Covid before taking the next vaccine. This is because you would have antibodies made naturally during the infection.

Between the two shots, WHO recommends a gap of 12 weeks for Covishield. The Indian government advised a gap of 6-8 weeks, but increased it to 12-16 weeks on Thursday. For Covaxin, the recommended gap is 4 weeks because no other interval has been tested.

Don’t worry if your second dose gets delayed by a few weeks because for Covishield, we know that one dose gives about 80% protection against severe disease.

Even WHO agrees you can delay the second dose of Covishield up to six months. For Covaxin, a few weeks’ delay will not matter, but as with all inactivated vaccines, try to get the second dose anytime after 4 weeks to complete the immunisation.

What are the most common Covid symptoms in children?

—PARI PARIKH, KOLKATA

The most common symptoms seen in teenagers and children in the second wave are high fever, cough and cold, throat pain, headache and loose stools. Normally, all s y m p t o m s subside in the first week itself, with cough persisting for 1-2 weeks. Weakness and body aches can also persist beyond the first week.

I am a senior citizen living alone. I feel very anxious when I hear negative news all the time — vaccine shortage, images of crematoriums, and deaths in the family. How can I keep my mind positive and calm?

—VAISHANAVI BHARATI, HOWRAH

It is wonderful to see that you reached out for an answer, which is the first step towards positive therapy. Please take solace from the fact that you are not alone. It is this sense of being part of a collective narrative that may be the anchor for many of us who otherwise feel despondent in the current time. Here are some suggestions:

1. Limit news to once a day. Read the newspaper in the morning. Avoid watching TV news repeatedly or skip it altogether if it troubles you.

2. Speak to people who are positive and give you good energy and vibes. It will fill you with optimism.

3. Find a mantra that inspires you, for example: “This too shall pass.” Hold on to it in your mind. You can make a note of it and keep it somewhere where you’d be reminded of it frequently.

4. Routines and daily rhythms keep the mind grounded. For example, a walk or surya namaskar or any breathing exercises every morning, chanting a shloka or singing to yourself, watching or reading something inspirational, etc.

India has approved the Roche/ Regeneron antibody cocktail to treat Covid-19. Could this be a gamechanger in the treatment of Covid?

—RAHUL, HYDERABAD

The Roche/Regeneron antibody cocktail consists of casirivimab and imdevimab, which are synthetically manufactured copies of antibodies the body produces after a Covid infection. These are monoclonal antibodies that bind to the spike protein of the novel coronavirus and block its entry into human cells.

They were proven effective in mild or moderate Covid-19 and can be used to treat people who are at high risk of developing severe disease, such as people with comorbidities or compromised immune systems, among others.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation has granted an emergency use authorisation to this new treatment, equipping doctors with one more tool to fight the battle against Covid-19. However, it is too early to say if it will be a gamechanger.

How long will the effect of Covid vaccine last? Will we have to take it every year?

—NAGENDRA KUMAR, HYDERABAD

So far, the vaccines Covaxin, Covishield and Sputnik V have been found to be effective against variants circulating in India. But efficacy of vaccines will depend on the emerging variants. So, we need to keep track of new mutations.

Although antibodies in the blood may begin to fade in 6-12 months, the cell-mediated immunity may last longer. Clinical trials are currently on to find out if we will need booster doses on an annual or longer basis. The decision will also depend upon our genetic make-up. It is too early to comment on this.

1-yr vax dose gap fine but 4 weeks ideal: Top virologist

1-yr vax dose gap fine but 4 weeks ideal: Top virologist

Advisory Leaves Senior Citizens Confused

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:15.05.2021

The Centre’s advisory to states to extend the interval between the first and second doses of Covishield vaccine to 12-16 weeks from the earlier 6-8 weeks has left many senior citizens confused. Those who took the second dose after six weeks are now concerned about the efficacy of the vaccine and whether it would offer protection from severe infection.

“We took the second dose within the 6-8 weeks window but the latest advisory suggesting an interval of 12-16 weeks has left us confused,” said Sridhar MS, 61, from Malleswaram, Bengaluru. A retired banker, Sridhar, had travelled all the way to Bidadi PHC, about 35km away, with his mother and wife on Wednesday to get the second shot.

However, experts TOI spoke with said delaying the second dose was fine from a medical point of view, especially given the shortage of doses. They pointed out that protection against the virus heavily depends on an individual’s immune response capabilities.

Dr T Jacob John, retired professor and head of clinical virology and microbiology at Christian Medical College, Vellore, said there is absolutely no problem if the second dose of Covishield is delayed. He said it is as good as taking after four weeks.

“The protection it offers after a four-week interval is nearly 100% against a severe form of the disease,” Dr John explained. “But it is not 100% against mild and moderate Covid. If you increase the interval up to 12 weeks, the efficacy against mild to moderate disease increases. However, against severe disease, the efficacy is the same whether the interval is four weeks or 16 weeks.”

He said a delayed second dose is as good as an early second dose and it does not nullify the effect of the first dose, which remains the same up to one year.

Dr Chandrashekar S, popular rheumatologist and immunologist, concurred. “There is always confusion between science and policy making,” Dr Chandrashekar said. “Conceptually, when the Covishield vaccine was studied, the two doses were spaced out by four weeks. The effectiveness was a little superior when the two doses were taken 12 weeks apart, as per the study,” said Dr Chandrashekar. Those who are concerned about immunization benefits can take an antibody test, he added.

However, Dr John conceded no study has been conducted to test efficacy beyond a 12-week window. “We are using the science of vaccinology to predict efficacy,” he said.

Full report on www.toi.in

A SHIELD: Beneficiaries above 18 years receive the Covid-19 vaccine in Patna on Friday

Leave encashment facility suspended for one more year

Leave encashment facility suspended for one more year

Chennai:15.05.2021

Last year, the Tamil Nadu government issued an order suspending the annual leave surrender facility of government employees, teachers and those in statutory and constitutional bodies. The suspension order has now been extended for one more year.

Employees can surrender earned leave for 15 days every year and encash it. In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, the state had last year suspended the facility, saying it would help the government save cash outgo. Now, in an order dated May13, the department said: “In view of the second wave of coronavirus, and the need to conserve resources to fight the pandemic, the suspension of periodical surrender of earned leave for encashment for 15 days every year or 30 days every two years, as provided under Rule 7A of Tamil Nadu Leave Rules, 1933 is extended for one more year, till 31.03.2022, to all government employees and teachers.”

The order is applicable to all constitutional, statutory bodies, including corporations, local bodies, companies, institutions and societies, said the order issued by chief secretary V Irai Anbu. TNN

Medicos to monitor home isolation patients

Medicos to monitor home isolation patients

Civic Body Hires Them To Keep A Check Over Phone

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:15.05.2021

From tomorrow, Covid-19 patients in home isolation in the city will receive calls from final year MBBS students who will monitor their health and also help them in case of any worsening symptoms.

Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has hired around 135 such students at a monthly pay of ₹40,000 for three months to sit in a zonal control room where they will be assigned patients to monitor through phone calls.

At a introductory meeting on Friday, these doctors were also told that their help would be needed in field work, if necessary. GCC is expected to hire around 300 such doctors.

GCC commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi said though patients have been given medicines, many would have doubts on when to take their medicines and would also be worried if their condition worsened. “It is necessary that these patients are in touch with a doctor,” he said.

Around 60% of the city’s 44,313 patients are in home quarantine. Also there were other issues pertaining to a home isolation patient such as the availability of yellow bags given by GCC to collect waste from Covid-19 patients and whether volunteers were helping out withprocurement of essentials.

As per a protocol sheet prepared by GCC, these doctors will be calling patients at least once a day and take details about their oxygen saturation, symptoms and adherence to home isolation norms.

In case their oxygen levels are below 94 and they show breathlessness or other symptoms, they would co-ordinate with the zonal health officer and send the patient to a covid care centre (CCC), triage centre or a hospital. It would also involve co-ordinating with the state war room (104) for an ambulance.

GCC has already started a service where triaging services for patients less than 60 years of age is done at home, Bedi said.

“In some cases, the family might be living in just one room and hence the non-infected family also carries the risk of contracting it. So we advise them to stay in a CCC. We have around 3,500 beds available in CCCs and we can augment it to 10,000,” Bedi said.

Oxygen beds in the city were also being increased and 50 more were added in the Injambakkam Urban Community Health Centre (UCHC), but it was not functional yet as a generator has to be set up, Bedi said.

SASTRA donates six ventilators to Thanjavur Medical College

SASTRA donates six ventilators to Thanjavur Medical College

SASTRA Deemed University has donated a total of six ventilators to Thanjavur Medical College Hospital (TMCH) and ESIC Hospital at KK Nagar in Chennai.

Published: 09th May 2021 04:31 AM 

S Vaidhyasubramaniam, the V-C of SASTRA (second from right) handing over the equipment to Dr Sirish Chavan of ESIC hosp in Chennai | express

By Express News Service

THANJAVUR: SASTRA Deemed University has donated a total of six ventilators to Thanjavur Medical College Hospital (TMCH) and ESIC Hospital at KK Nagar in Chennai. The first batch of the imported ventilators were handed over to Collector of Thanjavur M Govinda Rao in the presence of TMCH Dean and to the Head of Anaesthesia in ESIC.

S Vaidhyasubramaniam, Vice-Chancellor of SASTRA, handed it over to Dr Sirish Chavan at Chennai. Dean of Mechanical Engineering, SASTRA, S Pugazhenthi handed it over to Rao. Oxygen flow meters and pulse oximeters were also donated. “The total estimated cost of these life saving devices is `55 lakh and were sourced with great difficulty during these demanding times,” said Vaidhyasubramaniam

Can’t send to war without gun: HC says vaccinate legal aid lawyers

Can’t send to war without gun: HC says vaccinate legal aid lawyers

New Delhi:  14.05.2021 

Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the Centre and Delhi government whether legal aid lawyers and judicial officers in the 18-44 age bracket, working to implement Supreme Court orders to decongest prisons, can walk-in for vaccination shots at the centres set up in district courts, saying “you cannot send someone to war without a gun”. Justice Navin Chawla said lawyers and judicial officers were working to ensure that SC’s directions are implemented and need to be protected against the pandemic. The court was hearing a plea by Delhi State Legal Services Authority seeking directions to the Centre and Delhi government to urgently vaccinate judicial officers and legal aid lawyers. PTI

Why caller tune when no vax is available: HC

Why caller tune when no vax is available: HC

Abhinav.Garg@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: 14.05.2021 

Delhi High Court on Thursday wondered why the Centre had not yet changed the “irritating” message accompanying the caller tune asking people to get vaccinated, when vaccines were not available.

“You are not vaccinating people, but you still say that vaccination lagavaiye (get vaccinated). Kahan se lagwayein vaccines (how will one get vaccinated) when there is none. What is the point of the message,” a bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli told the Centre’s lawyers.

“You have been playing that one irritating message on the phone whenever one makes a call, that people should get the vaccination, when you (Centre) don’t have enough vaccines. You should give it to everyone. Even if you are going to take money, give it. That is what even children are saying,” the bench remarked, adding that the government needed to be “innovative” in such things.

The court said the government should prepare more messages instead of preparing just one and running it even while the ground situation had changed. “Till like a tape it stops running or starts skipping you will run it for10 years?” it asked.

It also suggested using television anchors or producers to create short programmes on making people aware about use of oxygen concentrators and cylinders or on vaccination, which could be aired on all the channels. On the suggestion floated by some lawyers, it agreed that celebrities, such as Amitabh Bachchan, could also be asked to chip in, but added a caveat that all this “needed to be done soon.”

“We are losing time. There should be a sense of urgency,” the bench said and directed the Centre and Delhi government to file their reports by May 18 on what steps were they going to take for disseminating information on Covid management via print, television media and caller tunes.

Meanwhile, the AAP government informed the bench that it had not been extensively using the Feluda test for Covid detection as it had a high false positives. It said, while RT-PCR had a longer turnaround time, it could give results of 96 samples, while Feluda gave one sample in half an hour.

The bench then asked ICMR to examine the government’s stand and revert, pointing out that Feluda was an ideal test to keep ready when the lockdown ended, and the city reopened. “We can’t remain like this all the time. We must be open and prepared for the future so that immediate samples can yield results. If efficiency is there, cost is less then you can use it in certain areas extensively when the city opens,” the bench said.

The court had earlier asked Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) why the Covid tests — Feluda and RAY — developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) had not gained popularity like RT-PCR. It also asked ICMR to inform it about the efficacy of both the tests after being informed by amicus curiae and senior advocate Rajshekhar Rao that, not only did both these tests had an efficacy equal to or better than that of the RT-PCR, but they were cheaper and gave faster results in less than an hour. Rao even added that RAY was an improved version of Feluda.

The court said all the ICMR-approved tests should be available to the public, especially those that were cheaper and gave accurate and faster results.

The bench directed the Centre and Delhi government to file their reports by May 18 on what steps were they going to take for disseminating info on Covid management via print, TV media and caller tunes

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.

Karnataka HC Staff Dies Of COVID Without Getting RT-PCR Result; High Court Directs Action Against Lab

Karnataka HC Staff Dies Of COVID Without Getting RT-PCR Result; High Court Directs Action Against Lab: A staff member of the Karnataka High Court died awaitingresults of the RT-PCR test results, foll

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

Not Giving Second Dose Of COVID Vaccine Is Violation Of Article 21 : Karnataka High Court: The Karnataka High Court on Thursday observed that not giving second dose of COVID-19 vaccine wil

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.