முக கவசம், சமூக இடைவெளி, தடுப்பூசி...: எம்.ஜி.ஆர்., மருத்துவ பல்கலை துணைவேந்தர் விளக்கம்

முக கவசம், சமூக இடைவெளி, தடுப்பூசி...: எம்.ஜி.ஆர்., மருத்துவ பல்கலை துணைவேந்தர் விளக்கம்

Added : மே 16, 2021 01:39

''அனைவரும் முன்னெச்சரிக்கை நடவடிக்கைகளை தொடர்ந்து மேற்கொண்டால் மட்டுமே, கொரோனா பரவலை தடுக்க முடியும். முக்கவசம், சமூக இடைவெளி, தடுப்பூசி ஆகியவற்றை அனைவரும் பின்பற்றினால், மூன்றாவது அலை வருவதை தடுக்க முடியும்,'' என, எம்.ஜி.ஆர்., மருத்துவ பல்கலை துணைவேந்தர் டாக்டர் சுதா சேஷய்யன் கூறினார்.

கொரோனா பரவல் தொடர்ந்து அதிகரித்து வருகிறது. இதனால், இறப்புகளும் அதிகரித்து உள்ளன. கொரோனாவை கட்டுப்படுத்த நம்மிடம் இருக்கும் ஒரே தீர்வு, தடுப்பூசி மட்டுமே. இந்தியாவில், 'கோவாக்சின்', 'கோவிஷீல்டு' ஆகிய இரு தடுப்பூசிகள் உள்ளன. இத் தடுப்பூசிகளை போட்டுக் கொள்ள, பொதுமக்கள் மத்தியில் ஆர்வம் அதிகரித்துள்ளது.

பொதுமக்களின் சந்தேகம் போக்கும் விதத்தில் விளக்கம் அளித்துள்ளார் எம்.ஜி.ஆர்., மருத்துவ பல்கலை துணைவேந்தர் டாக்டர் சுதா சேஷய்யன்.தடுப்பூசிகள் மீது பல்வேறு சந்தேகங்கள் மக்களுக்கு உள்ளன. கோவிஷீல்டு, கோவாக்சின் ஆகிய தடுப்பூசிகள், இந்தியாவில் உள்ள தட்பவெப்பநிலைக்கு ஏற்றார் போல் தயாரிக்கப்பட்டவை.

குளிர்நாடுகளில் பரிசோதிக்கப்பட்ட மருந்துகள் இங்கு எப்படி ஏற்றுக் கொள்ளப்படும். அந்த மருந்துகளுக்கான சந்தேகங்களுக்கு என்ன பதில்?'கோவிஷீல்டு' என்பது வெக்டார் தடுப்பூசி. கொரோனா வைரஸின் புரதத்தை, மற்றொரு வெக்டாரில் ஏற்றிக் கொடுக்கக் கூடியது. 'கோவாக்சின்' என்பது வைரஸை மொத்தமாக வல்லமை இழக்க செய்வது. சில தடுப்பூசிகள் குறிப்பிட்ட தட்பவெப்ப நிலைகளில், பாதுகாக்கப்பட வேண்டும்.

அங்கு தான் பிரச்னை ஏற்படுகிறது. குறிப்பிட்ட தட்பவெப்ப நிலையில் வைக்க முடியாதபோது, அவை வேலை செய்வதில்லை. நம் நாட்டில் தடுப்பூசிகளை, குறிப்பிட்ட தட்பவெப்ப நிலையில் வைத்திருப்பது மிகவும் கடினமான விஷயம். தடுப்பூசிகள் அனைத்து, நோய் கிருமிகளின் வலிமை குறைத்தல், செயலிழக்க செய்தல், எம்.ஆர்.என்.ஏ., ஆகிய தொழில்நுட்பங்களிலேயே செயல்படுகின்றன.

நமது மக்கள் தொகைக்கு அதிக தடுப்பூசிகள் தேவைப்படும் என்பதால், பல தடுப்பூசிகளை பயன்படுத்த அரசு திட்டமிட்டுள்ளது. மருத்துவ வரலாறை எடுத்து பார்க்கும்போது அனைத்து மருந்துகளின் மீதும் ஒரு சந்தேகம் இருந்தது தெரிய வரும். சிறிய அளவிலான கருத்துகளை கொண்டு ஒட்டு மொத்த மருந்தையும் குறை சொல்ல முடியாது.

இது தற்போது நடப்பதற்கு, தகவல் தொடர்பு மட்டுமே காரணம்.தடுப்பூசியால் பக்க விளைவு கள் எதுவும் இல்லை என்றால், நடிகர் விவேக் தடுப்பூசி போட்ட, 24 மணி நேரத்தில் உயிரிழந்தது எப்படி?இதற்கு பதில் சொல்லும் அதிகாரம் எனக்கில்லை.

இருந்தாலும், நான் கேள்விப்பட்ட வரையில் அவருக்கு ஏற்கனவே இருந்த மாரடைப்பு அல்லது ரத்தக்குழாயில் அடைப்பு ஏற்பட்டதால், மாரடைப்பு ஏற்பட்டதாக அவருக்கு சிகிச்சை அளித்த டாக்டர் தெரிவித்துள்ளார். இதுவரை, தடுப்பூசி போட்ட, 24 மணி நேரத்தில், ரத்தக்குழாயில் அடைப்பு ஏற்பட்டு மாரடைப்பு ஏற்பட்டதாக பதிவு இல்லை. இவ்விரண்டையும் ஆலோசித்து பார்க்க வேண்டும்.

இரண்டு தவணை தடுப்பூசி போட்டவர்களுக்கும் கொரோனா பாதிப்பு ஏற்பட்டுள்ளதே?

தடுப்பூசி என்பது பாதிப்பை கட்டுப்படுத்துமே தவிர, பாதிப்பு ஏற்டாமல் தடுக்கும் இரும்பு கவசம் அல்ல. கொரோனா வைரஸ் உடலுக்குள் சென்ற பின், அதை வெளியில் அனுப்புவது அல்லது நோய் பாதிப்பை ஏற்படுத்தாமல் தடுக்கும் பணியை மட்டுமே தடுப்பூசிகள் மேற்கொள்கின்றன. தடுப்பூசி போட்டால், நோய் தடுக்கப்படுகிறது. கொரோனா வைரஸ் தடுக்கப்படுவதில்லை. பாதிப்பு தான் தடுக்கப்படுகிறது.

'சார்ஸ் கோவிட் 2' என்ற வைரஸ் உடலுக்குள் செல்லும், ஆனால், கொரோனா என்ற நோய் உருவாகாது.தடுப்பூசி போட்ட பின் உடல்வலி, காய்ச்சல், இரு நாட்களுக்கு இயல்பாக இல்லாமை உள்ளிட்ட சிறிய அளவிலான பாதிப்பு ஏற்படுவது எதனால்?

தடுப்பூசி உடலுக்குள் சென்ற பின், நோய் எதிர்ப்பு சக்தியை ஏற்படுத்துகிறது. தடுப்பூசி என்பது வைரஸ் வீரியம் இழக்க செய்து உடலுக்குள் செலுத்தப்படுகிறது. வீரியம் இழந்த வைரஸ் உள்ளே செல்லும்போது வீரியம் அதிகமாக உள்ள வைரஸ் ஏற்படுத்தும் பாதிப்பை விட குறைந்த பாதிப்பையே ஏற்படுகிறது. அந்த பாதிப்பே காய்ச்சல், வலி ஏற்பட காரணம். தடுப்பூசி நோய் எதிர்ப்பு சக்தியை ஏற்படுத்த துவங்கி விட்டது என்பதற்கு இதுவே உதாரணம்.

தடுப்பூசி போட்டவர்களுக்கு இதுபோன்ற அறிகுறிகள் இருந்தால் எவ்வளவு நேரத்தில் டாக்டரிடம் பரிசோதிக்க வேண்டும்?

தடுப்பூசி போட்டவர்களுக்கு இரு நாட்கள் காய்ச்சல், உடல்வலி ஆகியவை இருந்தால், கவலைப்படத் தேவையில்லை. தடுப்பூசி மையங்களிலேயே இதுகுறித்து விழிப்புணர்வு ஏற்படுத்தப்பட்டு, மருந்துகள் வழங்கப்படுகின்றன. ஐந்து நாட்களுக்கு மேல் காய்ச்சல், வலி இருந்தால், அவர்கள் டாக்டரிடம் பரிசோதித்து அவர்கள் தரும் மருந்தை உட்கொள்ளலாம். கொரோனா என பயப்படத் தேவையில்லை.

இரண்டு தவணை தடுப்பூசி போட்டவர்கள் முகக்கவசம் அணிவதை தவிர்க்கலாமா?

கட்டாயம் கூடாது. வைரஸ் உள்ளே செல்வதை தடுப்பூசி தடுப்பதில்லை. அதனால், மற்றவர்களுக்கு பரப்ப வாய்ப்பு ஏற்படும். என்ன தான் தடுப்பூசி போட்டுக் கொண்டாலும், வைரஸை அதிகப்படுத்தி கொள்ளும்போது தடுப்பூசியால் ஏற்பட்ட நோய் எதிர்ப்பு சக்தி அதிகளவு வேலை செய்ய வேண்டியிருக்கும். அவ்வாறு வேலை செய்தால், நோய் எதிர்ப்பு சக்தி குறைய வாய்ப்புள்ளது. இதை தவிர்க்க முகக்கவசம் அணிவது அவசியம்.

தடுப்பூசி யார் போட்டுக் கொள்ளலாம், யார் தவிர்க்கலாம்?

மூன்று பிரிவினருக்கு, இது தேவையில்லை என, நம் நாட்டில் முடிவெடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. தேசிய அளவிலான தடுப்பூசிகளுக்கான சிறப்புக்குழு யாருக்கு தடுப்பூசி போடப்பட வேண்டும் என்பதை வரையறை செய்துள்ளது. அதன்படி, கர்ப்பிணிகள், 18 வயதுக்கு குறைவானர்கள், நோய் எதிர்ப்பு சக்தியை குறைக்க கூடிய மருந்துகளை உட்கொள்பவர்கள், தடுப்பூசி போட்டுக் கொள்ள வேண்டாம் என, அறிவுறுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது.

கர்ப்பிணி பெண்களுக்கு தடுப்பூசி போடுவது குறித்த முழுமையான ஆராய்ச்சி மேற்கொள்ளப்படவில்லை. சர்க்கரை, இருதய பாதிப்பு உள்ளிட்ட இணை நோய் உள்ளவர்களும் தடுப்பூசி எடுத்துக் கொள்ளலாம் என, தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.வைரஸின் செயல்முறையே அழற்சியை ஏற்படுத்தக்கூடியதாக உள்ளது. அழற்சியை ஏற்படுத்தும்போது, 'அசிடோசிஸ்' என்ற நிலையை ஏற்படுத்தும். இந்த, 'அசிடோஸில்' சர்க்கரை நோயை அதிக்கப்படுத்தும். அதனால், சர்க்கரை நோயாளிகள் கட்டாயம் தடுப்பூசி போட்டுக் கொள்ள வேண்டும்.

குறிப்பிட்ட மருந்துகள் உட்கொண்டால் டாக்டரின் பரிந்துரைக்கு பின் தடுப்பூசி போட்டுக் கொள்ள வேண்டும். உட்கொள்ளும் மருந்துக்கான பட்டியலை தடுப்பூசி முகாம்களில் உள்ள டாக்டர்களிடம் காட்டுவது சிறந்தது.

மூன்றாவது அலை வராது என கூற முடியுமா?

அனைவரும் முன்னெச்சரிக்கை நடவடிக்கைகளை தொடர்ந்து மேற்கொண்டால் மட்டுமே பரவலை தடுக்க முடியும். முக்கவசம், சமூக இடைவெளி, தடுப்பூசி ஆகியவற்றை அனைவரும் பின்பற்றினால், மூன்றாவது அலை வருவதை தடுக்க முடியும். தனிப்பட்ட முறையில் ஒவ்வொருவரும் விழிப்புடன் இருந்தால் மட்டுமே பரவல் தடுக்கப்படும். நம்மிடம் இருக்கும் ஒரு மிகப்பெரிய ஆயுதம் முகக்கவசம்.

அனைவரும் இணைந்து போராடினால், மே மாதம் முடிந்த பின் பரவல் குறையத் துவங்கும். நோய் எதிர்ப்பு சக்தி அதிகரித்து இரண்டாவது அலை முற்றிலும் குறையும். அறிகுறி குறைவாக உள்ளவர்கள் வீட்டிலேயே தனிமைப்படுத்திக் கொள்ள வேண்டும். அதை விடுத்து வெளியில் சென்று நோயை பரப்ப வேண்டாம்.

கொரோனா குறித்த விழிப்புணர்வு மற்றும் செய்யக் கூடியது, செய்யக்கூடாதது குறித்த முறையான பயிற்சி டாக்டர்களுக்கு வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளதா?

மத்திய அரசு கொரோனா குறித்த வழிமுறைகள் வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளன. நோயாளிகளை எப்படி அணுக வேண்டும். எந்த அறிகுறி இருந்தால் எவ்வாறு செயல்பட வேண்டும் என, தெரிவிக்கப் பட்டு உள்ளது. மருத்துவ கல்வி இயக்குனரகத்தின் மூலம் டாக்டர்களுக்கு தொடர் விழிப்புணர்வு ஏற்படுத்தப்படுகிறது. நோய்கள், நோயாளிகளின் தகவல் பரிமாறப்பட்டு அதன் அடிப்படையில், டாக்டர்களின் சந்தேகங்கள் விளக்கப்படுகின்றன.

அனைத்து டாக்டர்களுக்கும் தேவையான பயிற்சி வழங்கப்படுகிறது. உள்ளூர் அளவில் மட்டுமின்றி, சர்வதேச அளவில் டாக்டர்களுக்கு தேவையான சந்தேகங்கள் நிவர்த்தி செய்யப்படுகின்றன.

ரெம்டெசிவிர் என்பது என்ன?

அது ஒரு வைரஸ் கிருமியை எதிர்க்கக் கூடிய மருந்து. வேறு பல நோய்களுக்கு இது அதிகளவு பயன்படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது. ஆனால், கொரோனாவை பொறுத்தவரை அதன் செயல்பாடு குறைவே. தீவிரமான கொரோனா பாதிப்பில் உள்ளவருக்கும், நோயாளி மருத்துவமனையில் இருக்கும் காலத்தின் அளவை குறைப்பதற்கு இது பயன்படுகிறது. நோயை விரட்டுவது இல்லை. குறைந்த நோய் தாக்கம் உள்ளவர்களுக்கு இது பயன்படாதது.

அனைவருக்கும் பயன்படுத்த வேண்டிய அவசியமில்லை. மருத்துவமனையில் அனுமதிக்கப் படும் நோயாளிகளுக்கு மட்டுமே இது தேவை.தடுப்பூசி போட்ட பின் என்ன செய்ய வேண்டும், செய்யக்கூடாது?தடுப்பூசி போட்ட அன்று ஓய்வு எடுத்துக் கொள்வது அவசியம். அதிக வேலை செய்ய வேண்டாம். கை வலி இருக்கலாம். அதனால் தான், இடது கையில் தடுப்பூசி போடப்படுகிறது. தடுப்பூசி போட்டதில் இருந்து, ஐந்து நாட்கள் வரை மது அருந்தக்கூடாது, போதை மருந்துகள் உட்கொள்ளக்கூடாது. வலி இருந்தால், 'பாராசிட்டமால்' உட்கொள்ளலாம்.

கொரோனா தடுப்பூசி சந்தேகங்கள் விலக

கொரோனா தடுப்பூசி சந்தேகங்கள் விலக

dinamalar

Added : மே 16, 2021 00:46

1. நான் ஏற்கனவே பை-பாஸ் ஆப்பரேஷன் செய்து கொண்டுள்ளேன். கொரோனா தடுப்பூசி போட்டுக் கொள்ளலாமா?

கண்டிப்பாக தடுப்பூசி போட்டுக் கொள்ள வேண்டும். ஏற்கனவே இருதய நோய் உள்ளவர்களுக்கு கொரோனா தொற்று ஏற்பட்டால் மற்றவர்களைவிட அதிக வீரியத்துடன் பாதிப்பு ஏற்பட வாய்ப்புகள் அதிகம்.

2. சர்க்கரை நோயும், ரத்த கொதிப்பும் நீண்டநாட்களாக இருக்கிறது. அதற்கான மாத்திரை சாப்பிட்டுக் கொண்டிருக்கிறேன். நான்தடுப்பூசி போட்டுக் கொள்ளலாமா?

தயக்கம் இன்றி தடுப்பூசி போட்டுக் கொள்ளலாம்.

3. எனக்கு ஏற்கனவே ஆன்ஜியோபிளாஸ்டி ஆப்பரேஷன் செய்து இருதய ரத்தகுழாயில் ஸ்டென்ட் வைத்துள்ளார்கள். அதற்காக ஆஸ்பிரின் மற்றும் குளோப்பிலட் மாத்திரைகளில் உள்ளேன். நான் தடுப்பூசிபோட்டுக் கொள்ளலாமா? தடுப்பூசி போடும் முன் ஏதாவது மாத்திரைகளை நிறுத்த வேண்டுமா?

இருதய ரத்த குழாயில் ஸ்டென்ட் வைத்திருப்பவர்கள், அத்தகைய ஸ்டென்டிற்குள் ரத்தம் உறைந்து மாரடைப்பு வராமல் இருக்கும் பொருட்டு Blood thinner எனப்படும் ஆஸ்பிரின் மற்றும் குளோப்பிலட் மாத்திரைகளில் இருப்பார்கள். இத்தகைய மாத்திரைகளுக்கும், தடுப்பூசிக்கும் எந்த சம்பந்தமும் இல்லை. தடுப்பூசி போட்ட இடத்தில் தவறுதலாக ரத்தம் வந்தால் அந்த இடத்தை 5 லிருந்து 10 நிமிடங்கள் அழுத்தி கொள்ளவேண்டும்.

4. இரண்டு தடுப்பூசி போட்ட பின்பும் கொரோனா வருமா?

தடுப்பூசி போட்டு முடித்தவர்களில் அரிதாக சிலபேருக்கு கொரோனா மீண்டும் பாதிக்கிறது. ஆனால் அதனுடைய வீரியத் தன்மை மிகவும் குறைந்ததாக இருக்கிறது. விரைவில் அவர்கள் குணமடைந்து வெளியில் வருவது எளிதாகிறது. மரணம் ஏற்படுவது மிகமிக அரிது.

5. எனக்கு சில உணவு பொருட்களுக்கும் மாத்திரைகளுக்கும் ஒவ்வாமை உள்ளது. நான் தடுப்பூசி போட்டுக் கொள்வது பாதுகாப்பானதா? அதனால் பக்க விளைவுகள் வருமா?

ஓவ்வாமை தன்மைஉள்ளவர்கள் தடுப்பூசி போட்டுக் கொள்வது பாதுகாப்பானதே. அவர்கள் தடுப்பூசி போட்ட உடன் 30 நிமிடங்கள் மருத்துவமனையிலேயே மருத்துவரின் கண்காணிப்பில் இருத்தல் வேண்டும்.-

டாக்டர் கருப்பையா

இருதய நோய் சிகிச்சை நிபுணர்

மதுரை

ரேஷனில் ரூ.2,000 வாங்க மக்கள் ஆர்வம்

ரேஷனில் ரூ.2,000 வாங்க மக்கள் ஆர்வம்

Updated : மே 15, 2021 20:26 | Added : மே 15, 2021 20:13

சென்னை:ரேஷன் கடைகளில், கொரோனா நிவாரணமாக வழங்கப்பட்ட, 2,000 ரூபாயை, அரிசி கார்டுதாரர்கள் ஆர்வமுடன் வாங்கிச் சென்றனர்.

தமிழகத்தில் தொற்று பரவலை தடுக்க அமல்படுத்தப்பட்ட ஊரடங்கால், மக்களின் வாழ்வா தாரம் பாதிக்கப்பட்டது.இதனால், முதல்வராக பொறுப்பேற்ற ஸ்டாலின், 2.07 கோடி அரிசி கார்டுதாரர்களுக்கு, நிவாரணமாக தலா, 4,000 ரூபாய் வழங்க உத்தரவிட்டார்.அந்த தொகை, கார்டுதாரர்களுக்கு தலா, 2,000 ரூபாய் என, இரு தவணையாக வழங்கப்பட உள்ளது.

முதல் தவணையாக, 2,000 ரூபாய் வழங்கும் திட்டத்தை, 10ம் தேதி ஸ்டாலின் துவக்கி வைத்தார். ரேஷன் கடைகளில் கார்டுதாரர்களுக்கு, நேற்று முதல் வழங்கப்பட்டது.நிவாரண தொகை வாங்குவதற்காக, 'டோக்கன்' வழங்கப்பட்ட கார்டுதாரர்கள், காலை, 7:00 மணிக்கே ரேஷன் கடைகள் முன் குவிந்தனர். கூட்டம் சேரக்கூடாது என்பதற்காக, சமூக இடைவெளி விட்டு நிற்கும் வகையில், கடைகளுக்கு முன் வட்டங்கள் வரையப்பட்டிருந்தன.

அதன் மேல் கார்டுதாரர்கள் வரிசையாக நின்றனர்.காலை, 8:00 மணிக்கு கடைகள் திறந்ததும், நிவாரண தொகை வழங்கும் பணி துவங்கியது.விரைந்து வழங்குவதற்காக, கார்டு தாரர்களின் கைரேகை பதிவு முறை தற்காலிகமாக நிறுத்தப்பட்டு, ரேஷன் கார்டு அல்லது 'ஆதார்' கார்டை, 'ஸ்கேன்' செய்வது உள்ளிட்ட பழைய முறையை பின்பற்றி, நிவாரண தொகை வழங்கப்பட்டது.

பெரும்பாலான கடைகளில், நான்கு, 500 ரூபாய் நோட்டுகள் வீதம், 2,000 ரூபாய் வழங்கப் பட்டது. சில கடைகளில் மட்டும், 2,000 ரூபாய் ஒரு நோட்டு வழங்கப்பட்டது. சென்னை உட்பட பல மாவட்டங்களில், காலையில் இருந்து வெயில் சுட்டெரித்தது. அதையும் பொருட் படுத்தாமல் நீண்ட வரிசையில் காத்திருந்து, கார்டுதாரர்கள் நிவாரண தொகையை வாங்கி சென்றனர்.இம்மாதம் இறுதி வரை, நிவாரண தொகை வழங்கப்பட உள்ளதால், அதை வாங்க, டோக்கனில் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ள தேதிக்கு சென்று பெற்றுக்கொள்ளலாம்.

இது குறித்து கார்டுதாரர்கள் கூறுகையில், 'ஊரடங்கால் வேலைக்கு செல்ல முடியாமல், வீடுகளில் முடங்கி உள்ளோம். கையில் பணம் இல்லாத சூழலில், நிவாரண தொகையான, 2,000 ரூபாயை வைத்து, குடும்ப செலவுகளை சமாளிக்க முடியும்' என்றனர்.

எதற்கு இந்த கூட்டம் சேர்ப்பு?

கொரோனாவை அடக்குகிறேன் என, ஒரு பக்கம் முழு ஊரடங்கு அறிவிப்பு; மற்றொரு பக்கம், 'ரேஷன் கடை வழியே 2,000 ரூபாய் கொடுக்கிறோம்; ரெம்டெசிவிர் மருந்து விநியோகம் செய்கிறோம்; காலை, 10:00 மணி வரை கடை திறக்கிறோம்' எனச் சொல்லி, கொரோனாவுக்கு ஆரத்தி எடுத்து வரவேற்பு!

இந்த தவறை தான், அ.தி.மு.க., அரசும் செய்தது. அப்போது வாய்க்கு வாய் வசை பாடிய, தி.மு.க., இப்போது ஆட்சிக்கு வந்ததும், அதே தவறை, சற்றும் பிசகாமல் செய்கிறது. 'வாழ்வாதாரம் போகிறது' என கூப்பாடு போடுவோருக்கு ஒரு வேண்டுகோள்... முதலில் நமக்கு உயிர் முக்கியம்; அதை பாதுகாக்காமல், வாழ்வாதாரம் தேடுவது வீண்; புரிந்து கொள்ளுங்கள்!

Couple ties knot in Toronto, kin gives reception in Ujjain

Couple ties knot in Toronto, kin gives reception in Ujjain

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ujjain:16.05.2021 

Besides swapping plans of a lavish wedding with a simple one, Delhi’s Bagdiya family decided to make the last family wedding of this generation count by giving reception lunch to over 700 residing at Ujjain’s Sewadham Ashram.

Delhi boy Saharsh Bagdiya who found the love of his life in Jelly Ann Narciso, who hails from Philippines amidst the pandemic, decided not to waste time any further and tied knot in Toronto’s Brampton in a simple Hindu ceremony.

The wedding was attended virtually by parents of groom from Delhi, groom's grandmother from Ujjain and relatives from different parts of the country. The wedding also had virtual presence of bride's family from Philippines.

Initially, the family had planned to throw a lavish wedding followed by a grand reception for 700 relatives and family friends from across the country in Delhi, grandmother of Saharsh, Janaki Devi Bagdiya who lives in Ujjain told TOI.

"Without breaking the Covid-19 protocol, we gave reception to over 700 as previously planned. We wanted a lavish wedding as after Saharsh's wedding, the next wedding will take place only after over two decades," she added.

Owing to the scathing second wave of Covid-19, the plans were getting delayed. However, taking a U- turn from the plans, Saharsh who has been working in Toronto along with his higher studies shared his desire of a simple wedding to which the elders of the family quickly agreed. After seeking permission from the government, the newlyweds got married in wee hours as per the Braham muhurt (auspicious timing) at Brampton's Hindu Sabha Temple in a ceremony which encompassed hawan, poojan and other ceremonies which were completed in an hour.

Soon after marriage, Narciso who is a nurse and has been rendering her duties for Covid-19 vaccination drive resumed her duty.

Delhi boy Saharsh Bagdiya married Filipino national Jelly Ann Narciso in a simple Hindu ceremony in Toronto’s Brampton

LONG WAIT Candidates suffer as BU halts jobs under compassionate ground

LONG WAIT

Candidates suffer as BU halts jobs under compassionate ground

Ramendra.Singh@timesgroup.com

Bhopal:16.05.2021 

Jobs on compassionate grounds in Barkatullah University (BU) are hanging in the balance due to the ongoing corona curfew. Deserving candidates are forced to wait for long as the decision will be taken about them only after the curfew ends.

Anamika Gurud after losing her husband Nitin Gurud in December 2020 has been waiting for the jobs on compassionate grounds since then. “I am told that my issue was put in the executive council. However, the corona curfew played a spoilsport as the meeting could not be organized after that,” said Anamika.

“I am waiting for the day the curfew ends so the witness process would start again,” she said.

As the situation about her is yet to be cleared, Anamika has launched a YouTube channel on cooking recipes hping to earn some bucks. “It is a small effort. The channel has been liked by several people. If it goes like this soon, I may start some earnings,” said Anamika.

Same was the situation with Saima. She had lost her husband Khalil earlier this year. “I think the process has been started but the corona curfew has turned out to be a big obstacle. I am hoping that the process will resume soon,” said Saima.

The EC had taken up the issue in the previous two meetings. “The decision was to be taken in the following meetings but the Covid has stopped the process as of now,” said a senior official of the university without quoting his name.

When contacted, BU’s registrar HS Tripathi said that 8 such cases were discussed before the curfew was imposed due to corona. “Out of them 4 has been appointed. Process was on for the rest of the cases but the curfew was imposed that has stalled the process. Once the situation clears we would be able to make decisions about other cases also,” said Tripathi.

Even if Covaxin formula shared, not many equipped to make it: Experts

Even if Covaxin formula shared, not many equipped to make it: Experts

Swati.Bharadwaj@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:  16.05.2021 

After the loud chorus for vaccine maker Bharat Biotech to share its Covaxin "formula" prompted a top NITI Aayog official to invite interested vaccine makers to come forward, experts say very few players in the country are equipped to manufacture the inactivated virus vaccine.

That’s perhaps what also prompted Biocon’s founder chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw to tweet: “Vaccine Makers Invited To Produce Covaxin To Address Shortage -—interested to see how many takers there are.”

“Basically nobody actually wants to deal with or work with live viruses. In the rest of the world, nobody would dare to do it, that’s why most manufacturers go for protein-based vaccines. But in terms of the pandemic, the quickest way to develop a vaccine is to take the live virus and inactivate it,” says the honcho of a leading vaccine company.

Adds vaccine pioneer and Shantha Biotech founder KI Varaprasad Reddy: “Firstly, in a vaccine, there is no formula, its a process and technology. Even if others get it, they will take at least 6-8 months to a year to get acclimatized and start production, as validation of a high containment Bio-Safety Level-3 (BSL-3) facility alone would take 3-6 months. Also, training people to handle live viruses would require at least six months. It’s not a joke.”

Sources point out that even Indian Immunologicals Ltd, which will be manufacturing the Covaxin drug substance, will take at least three months to repurpose its BSL-2+ rabies facility and full-fledged production would begin only after October.

Others like Bharat Immunologicals & Biologicals as well as Haffkine Institute, roped in by the Indian government to make Covaxin, too, would take a few months to set up BSL-3 facilities.

Explaining the need for a BSL-3 facility to make Covaxin, Dr Rakesh K Mishra, former director and now adviser of Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), points out that Covaxin requires a large-scale culture facility in a BSL-3 setup for growing live SARS-CoV-2 virus.

NOT AN EASY TASK

People turned away as 12-wk rule for Covishield kicks in

People turned away as 12-wk rule for Covishield kicks in

Alok K N Mishra & Amin Ali TNN

New Delhi:16.05.2021 

Two days after the Centre approved extending the gap between two doses of the Covishield vaccine from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks, many people in the 45+ age group who had booked their second dose on the CoWin portal got a rude shock. They were turned away from vaccination centres across the city on Saturday. They had no inkling of the change and the CoWin portal didn’t in any way reflect it.

Arguments broke out at the vaccination centres with people who had completed 42-56 days after the first dose claiming they had not received any message or mail and should be allowed the second dose. The civil defence volunteers and other officials had a hard time convincing them that they had to go back.

Dilpreet Kaur, a 65-yearold resident of Lajpat Nagar, whose daughter in the US had booked a slot for her, was quite distressed that she would now have to wait for almost a month for the second dose.

She said senior citizens, especially those like her who stay alone, should have been allowed to take their second shot. The change has been brought about following a recommendation by the Covid Working Group, chaired by Dr N K Arora, which had been accepted by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19. It is based on the experience of the United Kingdom.

Ambiguity over whether this was only an advisory ended when people turned up at the vaccination centres on Saturday morning. They were told that they would get the second dose only after they completed at least 12 weeks (84 days). The orders from the central government seemed to have travelled to the Delhi government with lightning speed, bypassing the CoWin portal. It showed no change in the status of people, including many elderly citizens, who had found a slot with great difficulty, travelled some distance and stood in queue.

The Delhi government has been asked by the Centre to ensure that the second dose of Covishield is given at an interval of 12 to 16 weeks. This has been conveyed in a letter written to the chief secretary of all states and Union territories by the secretary, ministry of health & family welfare, Rajesh Bhushan. An immunisation officer in Delhi said officials and vaccinators have been asked to ensure adherence to the revised dosing interval.

Arguments broke out at vaccination centres with people claiming they had not received any message and should be allowed the second dose

Elderly show signs of depression: Survey

Elderly show signs of depression: Survey

Ambika.Pandit@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:16.05.2021 

Loneliness and a deepening sense of uncertainty has hit the senior citizens like never before during the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic, according to the analysis based on interactions with over 5,000 elderly during the past one month by volunteers of Agewell Foundation. It has released data to flag mental health concerns with over 82% of the eldery complaining of anxiety due to rising Covid-19 cases and casualties around them.

Around 70.2% of respondents were found suffering from sleeplessness or insomnia or nightmares due to poor quality of sleep. During the past month, it was also found that 63% of the elderly developed symptoms of depression due to loneliness and social isolation and unceasing stress The analysis is based on feedback collected between April 10 and May 10.

More than half (55%) of the elderly claimed that they are also feeling weak and fatigued due to change in lifestyle, restrictions and other factors. At the same time, over 52% complained of loss of appetite.

Agewell Foundation Founder Himanshu Rath said, “During the past month, there was overall rise of 50% in the number of older people seeking counselling or help for psychological issues.”

These concerns are also reflected in the nature of calls being received by organisations like HelpAge India.

Loneliness and a sense of uncertainty have hit senior citizens during second wave of Covid-19 pandemic

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