DMK’S CABINET FULL OF FOES-TURNED-FRIENDS

DMK’S CABINET FULL OF FOES-TURNED-FRIENDS

One-Fourth Of M K Stalin’s Ministers Have Been Part Of MGR And Jayalalithaa’s Coterie

R Rangaraj

17.05.2021

Nearly one-fourth of the DMK cabinet under M K Stalin comprises former AIADMK men, including two who had served both the M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa cabinets, and some who had joined the party when it was founded by MGR in 1972. With eight former AIADMK men adorning the government it is like an amalgamation of the Dravidian majors.

The eight ministers – K K S S R Ramachandran, S Muthusamy, R S Raja Kannappan, S Regupathy, E V Velu, Anitha Radhakrishnan, P K Sekar Babu and Senthil Balaji — have not just been inducted into the cabinet, they have been given powerful and prestigious posts as well, from revenue to electricity.

This exercise seems to be part of a larger scheme to attract other senior leaders of the AIADMK. By weaning away its second-rung leaders and giving them importance in the DMK, Stalin appears to be sending the message that AIADMK men who move to the DMK camp will be treated well and have a glorious future ahead of them.

While M Karunanidhi did give the early entrants from the AIADMK some posts, it is Stalin who is going out of the way to make them feel comfortable in the DMK. In the past few years, he had given them party posts. He has also struck the right balance between rewards to party loyalists and new entrants.

Now, that Stalin is CM, he is using the opportunity to confer more benefits on these leaders. Senthil Balaji is a classic example of an AIADMK man once sidelined and now honoured in the DMK. He had been active in the AIADMK since 1997 and grew up the ranks to be minister for transport in the J Jayalalithaa cabinet from 2011 to 2015. He was dropped from the cabinet in July 2015 and after the demise of Jayalalithaa, when the AIADMK underwent a split, he stood by T T V Dhinakaran.

Part of the group of 18 disqualified MLAs, Senthil Balaji joined the DMK on December 14, 2018. He was fielded by the DMK in the byelection to Aravakurichi constituency in 2019. In 2021, he was reelected to the state assembly from Karur constituency. He has been given important portfolios of electricity, prohibition and excise, indicating that he enjoys the goodwill of chief minister M K Stalin. Among the senior members of the new government’s cabinet is K K S S R Ramachandran. A member of the Karunanidhi cabinet 2006, his time he has the important portfolio of minister for revenue and disaster management. He was in MGR’s cabinet as well. Close to Jayalalithaa for supporting her after MGR’s death, he was also key in enabling the revival of the unified AIADMK in the 1990s. In the DMK, he is considered an important leader, especially in the southern districts.

E V Velu, who was on Janaki’s side during the AIADMK split, is now a senior DMK leader. He had served the Karunanidhi cabinet from 2006 to 2011 as minister for food and civil supplies. Velu, now minister for public works, is considered an important leader for the party in north Tamil Nadu.

With plans of boosting the DMK’s efforts in the western part of the state, the elevation of S Muthusamy appears crucial. The region is traditionally the DMK’s weak spot and using a former AIADMK man to shore up the DMK image in the gounder belt is a deft move. Muthusamy had been a part of the MGR and Jayalalithaa government.

The law minister S Regupathy was the labour minister in the AIADMK cabinet from 1992 to 93, and later the minister of urban development and housing till 1996. The prominent leader from Pudukkottai was made minister of state for home during the UPA rule at the Centre, and minister of state, environment and forests.

A popular face in Chennai, P K Sekar Babu, is another former AIADMK leader. The minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments is expected to play a key role in further consolidation of the DMK in the Greater Chennai region.

Among the ministers who had an onand-off relationship with the AIADMK is R S Raja Kannappan, holding the transport portfolio. A powerful minister in the Jayalalithaa cabinet from 1991-96, Kannappan in 2000 formed the Makkal Tamil Desam party. Six years later, he merged it with the DMK. He rejoined the AIADMK in 2009, but 10 years later appealed to the people to vote for the DMKled alliance. He formally made the switch to the DMK in February 2020.

Anitha Radhakrishnan, who was expelled from the AIADMK in 2009 for anti-party activities He joined the DMK, and was suspended briefly when he greeted Jayalalithaa after her acquittal in the disproportionate assets case. In the 2021 assembly election, he was reelected from Tiruchendur constituency and has now been appointed as minister for fisheries. He is expected to play a crucial role in the expansion of the DMK network in the southern districts.

While Stalin has successfully launched a programme to woo the AIADMK leaders with the promise of opportunities both in the party and the government. It remains to be seen how many AIADMK men will swallow the bait

(The writer is senior journalist)

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TNPSC: Results to be released on June 8

TNPSC: Results to be released on June 8

17.05.2021

The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC), centrally responsible for the recruitment of personnel in various departments of the state government of Tamil Nadu, has informed that the results of the last 14 examinations conducted by it will be released on June 8. These 14 examinations were conducted during December 2020. The results for these examinations will be announced on June 8. TNPSC had already released the results of the 120 examinations conducted in December 2020 for recruitments in various state government departments on May 8.

City colleges come forward to help Covid-19 patients

City colleges come forward to help Covid-19 patients

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:17.05.2021

In the war on Covid-19, city colleges are chipping in by opening their campuses for oxygen beds and isolation rooms, preparing food packets for frontline workers and tele-counselling patients. A majority have handed over their buildings to the Greater Chennai Corporation to convert them into Covid care centres.

Madras Christian College created a 15-bed isolation facility for patients with mild symptoms, five-bed facility for primary contacts and also launched an ambulance service. “The facility is open to all faculty members, staff members, students, alumni and general public. The centre will provide basic ambulance and isolation services,” said Paul Wilson, principal. The centre will provide online medical consultation, food and nursing services. The ambulance will be available up to a radius of 15 km from MCC. .

Loyola College is offering tele-counselling to Covid-19 patients in partnership with the corporation. “We have an additional tele-counselling facility in our college as well. The centre has three dedicated phone lines and counsellors. Social workers are giving counselling," said principal Thomas Amirtham.

The college also identified 200 community leaders to train in basic awareness. "Each person will get a corona home Kit which will have an oxymeter, masks, hand sanitizer and tablets. They will operate as community healers,” he added. The college along with GCC plans to start a 50-bed Covid care centre for asymptomatic persons at the hostel.

Some colleges are also organising vaccination drives and functioning as community kitchens. “We are conducting a vaccination drive for the general public along with the Rotaract club. We have also handed over a building for Covid care centre,” said S Santhosh Baboo, principal of DG Vaishnav College.

Alagappa College of Technology hostel at Anna University campus in Chennai functioning as Covid care centre for police personnel. “We have also handed over the knowledge park building for converting it as a Covid care centre,” a university n official said.

STEPPING UP: Madras Christian College created a 15-bed isolation facility

Kids break piggy banks to help fight Covid

SHOT OF HOPE

Kids break piggy banks to help fight Covid

Sindhu.Kannan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:17.05.2021 

They had saved up the money to buy toy cars they could sit in and drive. But when they saw how people were contributing to the fight against the coronavirus, eight-year-old Mithun Sanjith and six-year-old Mithran Sanjay from Chengalpet decided to break their piggy banks and givetheir contents to the government.

The coins and notes they had assiduously put away ever since they drove their dream cars at a mall two years ago made up a tidy sum. Their mother Pramila helped them count the money that came to ₹10,045. Their father Shiva, a journalist with a Tamil daily,

said at first he did not take him seriously when Mithun asked if he could donate the money. The boys really wanted the toy cars, but they had put off a trip to the mall because of the pandemic. But then the children broke open the piggy bank and offered the money, saying they would rather give it away than buy the cars. Since Saturday was Mithun’s birthday, they decided to hand over the money on that day to Chengalpet collector John Louis, who gifted him a book.

The collector lauded Mithun Sanjith, a class three student of V S Star matriculation school, and Mithran Sanjay, a class one student of Good Shepherd public school in Kalpakkam. Shiva said the boys used to get worried watching TV news and hearing him on the phone discussing the pandemic. They would press him not to leave home.

HEART OF GOLD: Mithun Sanjith, 8, and Mithran Sanjay, 6, from Chengalpet donated ₹10,045 to the government’s Covid fund

Remdesivir to be sold directly to TN pvt hosps

Remdesivir to be sold directly to TN pvt hosps

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:17.05.2021

After milling crowds at remdesivir sales counters opened at six places in government hospitals across Tamil Nadu sparked fear of turning into super-spreaders, the state government has decided to sell the anti-viral drug directly to private hospitals treating patients from Tuesday, and not to the family and friends of the infected. The decision was taken at a review meeting chaired by chief minister M K Stalin on Sunday.

A new online portal will be launched on Tuesday through which private hospitals can register their requirement, a press release said.

‘Hospitals required to submit records of patients in need of O2’

Health minister Ma Subramanian said, “Hospitals will be asked to submit medical records pertaining to oxygen-dependent patients. After going through the documents, Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation will approve remdesivir vials. Hospital representatives can collect them from sale depots.”

A K Ravikumar, state secretary, Indian Medical Association (IMA), said once the changes come into effect, government should not prioritise bigger hospitals (with 100-beds or more) and provide the drug to all Covidempanelled hospitals based on a common waiting list. Or else, the government can collect a weekly or15-day indent from private hospitals and supply the required quantity upfront. In order to monitor usage, hospitals can be asked to return used vials and upload patient details before making request for the next batch (as it is done for supplying vaccines), he said.

Health authorities said that they will continue to monitor private hospitals to ensure they administer remdesivir only to eligible patients and the drug is sold only at the price fixed by the government.

Though remdesivir is recommended only for severe cases, some private physicians are recommending it to all patients thereby increasing the drug’s market demand. This has led to hoarding and black marketing of the drug. Chennai police arrested people for trying to sell a vial for ₹15,000 to ₹35,000 last week.

The government has promised to take legal action against those who sell it at exorbitant rates and prescribe it without necessity, the press release said.

Study: Covaxin tackles all new strains, works against double mutant

Study: Covaxin tackles all new strains, works against double mutant

Swati.Bharadwaj@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:17.05.2021

Indigenous Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin is effective in fighting all key emerging variants, including the double mutant B.1.617 and B.1.1.7, which was first identified in India and the UK, its developer Bharat Biotech said on Sunday while citing a study published in an Oxford journal.

Pointing out that Covaxin was successful in retaining neutralising activity against emerging variants, a top official of the company said that no difference in neutralisation was observed between B.1.1.7 (first isolated in the UK) and the vaccine strain (D614G) that was used to develop Covaxin.

Citing a study published in peer-reviewed medical journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, Bharat Biotech joint managing director Suchitra Ella tweeted: “A modest reduction in neutralisation by a factor of 1.95 was observed against B.1.617 variant compared to the vaccine variant (D614G). Despite this reduction, neutralising titre (concentration of neutralising antibodies) levels with B.1.617 remain above levels expected to be protective.”

Neutralising antibodies are part of the body’s immune system and helps defend from viruses and bacteria by neutralising their effects on the body. These antibodies are produced when one gets infected or vaccinated.

The study, ‘Neutralisation of variant under investigation B.1.617 with sera of BBV152 vaccinees’, was covered in the May 7 issue of the journal that is published by the Oxford University Press.

The study found that the sera drawn from those vaccinated with Covaxin performed better against the B.1.617 variant as compared to the sera taken from patients who had recovered from Covid.

SHOT OF HOPE: A health worker administers a vaccine dose to a woman in Bengaluru on Sunday

Top virologist quits Covid-19 advisory group

Top virologist quits Covid-19 advisory group

17.05.2021

Veteran virologist Shahid Jameel, chair of the scientific advisory group of the forum INSACOG, has quit the forum but declined to give a reason. “I am not obliged to give a reason,” he said, adding that he quit on Friday. Asked why the Centre did not respond forcefully to their findings on new variants, Jameel had told Reuters that he was concerned that authorities were not paying enough attention to the evidence as they set policy.

No HC relief for student who indulged in exam malpractice

No HC relief for student who indulged in exam malpractice

Madurai:17.05.2021 

Madras highcourt has refused to interfere with he punishment given to a student by an autonomous college for indulging in malpractice, while appearing for an online semester exam. The petitioner, a student, joined an MBA course in an autonomous college in Virudhunagar district in 2019. According to the petitioner, the college initiated disciplinary proceedings against him for indulging in malpractice during an online examination and thereafter he was never allowed to attend the classes.

In the counter affidavit submitted by the college,it stated that the petitioner was involved inmalpractice in anonline exam conducted in January2021 for second semester. The petitioner had uploaded the answer sheet of another student. During the inquiry, it was proved that the petitioner was involved in malpractice. Though the college had permitted him to attend the onlineclasses,he did not attend the classes from February 6. Justice N Anand Venkatesh observed that from the documents submitted, it is clear that the petitioner was involved in malpractice during the online exam and had uploaded the answer sheet of another student. TNN

New lockdown restrictions hard on bachelors, elderly

New lockdown restrictions hard on bachelors, elderly

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:17.05.2021

It’s the need of the hour, but the new restrictions disallowing general stores from functi0ning after 10am, has become tough on bachelors, elderly people staying by themselves and those working night shifts, among others.

While those with the financial and technical capacity to order provisions online are using it, public say it is prudent to order in advance as most stocks are running out while ordering online.

“Ever since the lockdown was announced, customers have been stocking up on instant noodles, readymade chappatis, snacks and similar dishes,” said S Baskar, a grocery store owner in Puzhuthivakkam. While during the first announcement, there was not much rush, after the second lockdown announcement, there has been a rush to stock up on such items.

Not all bachelors staying in the city can afford to buy food through delivery apps and elderly people too are facing difficulties and are reliant on neighbours. “We are a group of friends staying together and working odd jobs. Most days our breakfast and dinner used to be a cup of tea and biscuits at the nearby tea stall to save money. Now, that tea stalls are closed, we are finding it difficult,” said S Sivakumar of Velachery.

Since there has been no restrictions on domestic helps, elderly people who are vaccinated make use of them to avail provisions and other needs.

“I usually work late into night and by the time I wake up now, the shops are closed. While the government’s move is understandable, the authorities can consider allowing roadside vendors selling vegetables and fruits and push carts too for the benefit of bachelors and elderly persons,” R Ram Kumar, a resident of Adambakkam said.

Traders and shop owners too are facing the heat as they feel 6am to 10 am is a limited time period for them to run business. “Some of us have employers to pay for and with limited business, we find it difficult to pay them,” said a shopkeeper.

Vaccination at the doorstep for 45+

Vaccination at the doorstep for 45+

Civic Body Plans To Provide 30k Jabs A Day

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:17.05.2021

If you live in an apartment complex in Chennai where there are more than 100 people above the age of 45 who need to get Covid-19 vaccines, you can get the jab at your doorstep.

Greater Chennai Corporation has opened bulk vaccination registration from Saturday for resident welfare associations, big companies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and communities.

A form has been circulated by the civic body which will collect details of a nodal person, the number of people to be vaccinated, the organisation or community and a preferred location for the vaccination.

“Enough stock of vaccines is available and some more are on their way,” said an official. In case there are more than 100 people, GCC will bring its staff and vaccines to the preferred location and conduct the drive.

“If there are slightly less than that figure, then it will be done at the nearest primary health centre (PHC) run by GCC,” said a senior official.

However, GCC has strictly prioritised vaccinations for frontline workers and essential service providers as a first phase and hence vaccinations will be organised accordingly. The corporation said this is the only way to help bring Chennai back to normalcy.

Harbour MLA and minister for Hindu Religious and-Charitable Endowments P K Sekar Babu told presspersons that local functionariesof the DMK have also started an sms campaign in their constituencies to ensure that everyone in the particular age group gets a jab.

GCC commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi said that they were not yet satisfied with the numbers that they have achieved. “We want at least 30,000 to be vaccinated every day. We urge people to walk to the neares tspecial camp or PHC to get the jab,” he said.

According to GCC data, close to 20,000 got their shot on Saturday. The number is likely to go up on Sunday, figures for which will be released on Monday.

GCC has a capacity to vaccinate around 60,000 people a day, but the response to the vaccination drive has been middling as yet. The highest that the civic body has been able to reach is 49,010 on April 16. The only other time that 40,000 were vaccinated on a single day was on April15.

In the last two weeks, GCC has been able to touch 20,000 vaccinations a day only on three occasions. On Sundays, the turnout hasbeen poor, going as low as 2,251 on May 2.

Co-Win recalibrated to show 12-16 wks gap for Covishield shots

Co-Win recalibrated to show 12-16 wks gap for Covishield shots

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:17.05.2021

The government has reconfigured the Co-Win platform to reflect the new dosing schedule of 12-16 weeks for Covishield as against the previous scheme where vaccination bookings could be made six weeks after the first shot.

The Co-win authorities said if an online appointment has already been made for a second dose of Covishield as per the previous schedule, it would remain valid and a shot can be received as planned. However, vaccination centres are turning away even those with valid appointments and this part of the directive may need to be made clear to state health departments.

“Online appointments that have been already booked for second dose of Covishield will remain valid and are not being cancelled by Co-Win. We have also asked states and UTs to honour the appointments booked prior to the change in dosing interval, mainly to avoid any inconvenience,” a senior official said.

Appointments for 2nd dose can be booked only with a gap of 84 days

Now on, further online or on-site appointments for second dose can be booked only with a gap of at least 84 days from the first dose. “We also urge those who have already booked an appointment for second dose, and their scheduled period is less than 84 days, to reschedule their slot,” the official added.

For instance, if you received your first dose of Covishield on April 4, Co-Win will show a due date of June 27 and last date of July 25 for your second dose. Similarly, those who received the first dose of Covishield on April 8 will be now due for their second dose between July 1 and July 29.

On May 13, the Centre had extended the gap between the first and second doses of Covishield vaccine to 12-16 weeks based on recommendations of the Covid Working Group chaired by N K Arora.

“The government of India has communicated this change to states and UTs. The Co-WIN digital portal has also been reconfigured to reflect this extension of interval for two doses of Covishield, manufactured by Serum Institute of India to 12-16 weeks,” the health ministry said.

States have also been advised to undertake awareness activities to inform recipients about the changed dosing schedule. The dosing schedule for Covaxin remains unchanged.

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