Anna University disagrees to make more room for COVID-19 wards on campus

Anna University disagrees to make more room for COVID-19 wards on campus

Vice-Chancellor MK Surappa told TNIE that around 650 beds in the campus have already been handed over to repurpose as isolation wards and that the varsity cannot make more space.

Published: 18th June 2020 11:22 PM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Anna University has said it cannot hand over more space in its campus for the Chennai corporation for the use as isolation wards for COVID-19 patients.

Anna University Vice-Chancellor MK Surappa told TNIE that around 650 beds in the campus have already been handed over to repurpose as isolation wards and that the varsity cannot make more space. "We have handed over space for 650 beds in the Postgraduate Hostel and the Knowledge Block to the Corporation already," he said.

The Chennai Corporation has asked the varsity to hand over space for 1,000 additional beds. Surappa said that this would mean handing over hostels currently used by students. "The other hostel rooms in the varsity are occupied by students' belongings. We cannot clear their belongings without permission," he said.

When contacted a senior corporation official said that 650 beds are already in use for railway quarantine. “Ideally they should give (the additional beds) since it’s also a government body and when another government body is asking, they should make arrangements for it,” said a senior Corporation official. A notice has been issued in this regard earlier, he added.

Some hostel rooms are occupied by students who could not leave the campus in time as well.

Karnataka may seek 50% beds in private hospitals

Karnataka may seek 50% beds in private hospitals

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com  19.06.2020

Bengaluru: With cases steadily increasing in Bengaluru, the government is contemplating scaling up participation of private hospitals in the battle against the pandemic. It is likely to seek 50% of beds reserved for Covid-19 in select private hospitals.

The state Covid-19 taskforce met in Bengaluru on Thursday and deliberated on the issue of securing more beds in private hospitals. “Many private hospitals, which have the facilities, have volunteered to tie up with the government to treat patients. However, there is no clarity yet on the price matrix,” sources said.

Matters pertaining to treatment and hospitalisation costs proposed by private hospitals were also discussed, but no decisions were taken.

“We discussed treatment costs in private hospitals and the need to fix prices. Costs proposed by private hospitals in Karnataka have to be compared with those in other states. The matter will be put before the state cabinet shortly,” said health minister B Sriramulu.

With 408 active cases in Bengaluru, dedicated wards in Victoria Hospital are running out of beds, while Trauma Care Centre and Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital, which has 155 beds, have only a few beds vacant. Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI) has 500 dedicated beds at Trauma Care Centre and Victoria Hospital for Covid-19.

“Henceforth, people who contract an infection will be treated at private hospitals too,” said Dr CR Jayanthi, director, BMCRI.

“We have 140 patients in isolation wards and 15 patients in ICU. If cases increase, Victoria Hospital will have to admit them,” said Dr KS Manjunath, director, Bowring hospital.

Some cases are also being treated in ESI Hospital, Rajajinagar and Rajiv Gandhi Hospital for Chest Diseases (RGICD). “Currently we have three patients. Provision has been made for 150 beds with oxygen supply if needed in the old block,” said Dr C Nagaraja, director, RGICD.

The health and family welfare department is also working on admitting asymptomatic patients to care centres, which could be hotels earlier used as quarantine facilities.

“We can then focus on patients who need critical care. Covid-19 care centres will also have doctors deputed for routine checks,” said health and family welfare department director Dr Om Prakash Patil.

Meanwhile, the taskforce on Thursday also discussed ways to prevent burnout among medical staff. It finally decided to send doctors and nurses on week-long quarantine after a week at work. Though 14-day cycles of work and quarantine was the practice earlier, it had been discontinued at several places after a spike in the cases.

8 COPS FROM ONE STATION +VE

Eight police personnel attached to Kalasipalya police station (law and order), West division, tested positive on Thursday. The station is located near KR Market and near two other stations – VV Puram and City Market – where five police personnel (two from VV Puram and three from City Market) were found infected. “All eight have been shifted to Victoria Hospital and 35 people, who have been identified as primary contact, are in quarantine. The number of primary contacts may increase on Friday,” a senior police officer said adding, “The eight had worked in Padarayanapura and Tippunagar [both containment zones],” he said. On Wednesday, tests on nine Bengaluru police personnel, five Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) battalion cops and four from two other stations had confirmed an infection. In all, 26 cops from the city have tested positive for Covid-19 so far.

Universities propose two models to conduct exams

Preeti.Biswas@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad: 19.06.2020

From conducting examinations in phases to promote students based on internal exams and/or previous performance, universities presented various models during a review meeting held in the city on Thursday.

Education minister P Sabitha Indra Reddy had sought suggestions from all university and higher education department officials on varsity exams. During the meeting, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTHU) proposed two models for final year undergraduate and post-graduate exams. In the first model, officials proposed to conduct the exam in two phases and leave the choice to students and in the second model, the university proposed extrapolation.“In the first model, we proposed that students may attend the exam at the nearest location of their choice either in the first phase or the second phase that will be conducted after 45 days of the first phase. In extrapolation model, we can promote students based on internal marks and performance in previous exams. Those who don’t choose either of the models can appear for a special exam,” said an official privy to the meeting, adding that there will be relaxations for first to third year students and their examinations will be conducted at a later stage. Osmania University (OU) too proposed a similar model and said that they are ready to follow the Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE) guidelines. “Just like JNTUH, even we proposed to promote students based on internal exams and/or previous examinations. As per TSCHE guidelines, we are ready to relax examination timing and necessary modifications in the exam pattern,” said Ch Gopal Reddy, registrar, OU.

Following suggestions from all the stakeholders, the education minister is set to present a detailed report to chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who will take the final call on university exams and academic calendar for degree and professional courses in the state.

In the first model, officials proposed to conduct the exam in two phases and leave the choice to students and in the second model, the university proposed extrapolation

Strict action if salary of medics not paid in time: Govt to hosps

Strict action if salary of medics not paid in time: Govt to hosps

Sushmi.Dey@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  19.06.2020

The Centre has said that hospitals and medical institutions not paying timely salaries to doctors and healthcare workers on Covid-19 duty will face stringent action under the Disaster Management Act and Indian Penal Code. This follows the assurance the government gave to the Supreme Court earlier this week in the course of a PIL that said the crucial frontline workers were being put at a disadvantage.

The health ministry on Thursday issued an order asking states to ensure timely disbursement of salaries to doctors and health workers on Covid-19 related duties. Violation of the order will be treated as an offence under the Act and action will be taken under IPC, health secretary Preeti Sudan said.

“The Chief Secretary of the States/ UTs should ensure compliance of this order by all concerned, violation of which will be treated as an offence under the Disaster Management Act read with the Indian Penal Code, and action taken accordingly against defaulting hospitals/ institutions/authorities,” the order issued by Sudan on Thursday said.

The apex court issued an order while hearing a doctor’s petition which alleged that medical professionals were not being paid in several regions and were also not provided facilities to isolate themselves which was a big risk to their families if the medical staff were to get infected.

Dr Arushi Jain, in her petition filed through advocates Mithu Jain and Arjun Syal, alleged that frontline healthcare workers engaged in the fight against Covid-19 were either not being paid salaries or their wages were being cut or delayed.

Despite government’s constant appeals to treat doctors and healthcare workers with respect, several reports of incidents of ill—treatment and harassment of doctors and nurses have come in.

Can’t waive rent, landlords need money too: HC

Can’t waive rent, landlords need money too: HC

Abhinav.Garg@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:19.06.2020

Tenants alone are not suffering from financial hardship, even landlords can be financially dependent on rent, Delhi high court has said, dismissing a plea that wanted a blanket waiver on payment of rent and protection from eviction during Covid-19 crisis.

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan noted that the court will be “extremely slow to interfere in contractual terms” between landlords and tenants, adding that waiver of rent cannot be granted by the court as payment of rent is based on a contract between tenant and landlord.

“It ought to be kept in mind that the court cannot do charity at the cost of others. Charity beyond the law is an injustice to others. If the landlord is entitled to receive the rent/ consideration in accordance with law as per the contractual agreement entered between the parties concerned, then, the court cannot, by a general order of the nature sought by the petitioner, waive such amount,” the bench added, refusing to entertain a petition filed by a lawyer Gaurav Jain.

Declining any relief, the court noted that “the petition proceeds on the presumption that tenants alone are suffering from financial hardship, or from the economic consequences of the pandemic and consequent lockdown. However, it ought to be kept in mind that even the landlords can be financially dependent on the rent.”

The court underlined that “The powers/discretion for waiving off such consideration (rent) vests first with the landlords, who are contractually entitled to the same” and deprecated the petitioner’s conduct. The court imposed a cost of Rs 10,000 on Jain for “wasting judicial time” and said the plea was “thoroughly misconceived and baseless.”

3,000-bed corona care centre at DD Med College

3,000-bed corona care centre at DD Med College

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 19.06.2020

A mega 3,000-bed corana care and prevention centre is being created by authorities on DD Medical College premises in Tiruvallur district.

Collector Maheswari Ravikumar made a spot visit to Pattaraiperumpudur panchayat, wherethe medical college is located, and inspected various provisions being made for treatment, drinking water, toilets and uninterrupted power supply to the facility.

Taking note of the fact that about 3,000 beds are to be put in place, the collector discussed details with the officials concerned and directed them to expedite works.

DRDA director K Loganayaki, divisional revenue officer S Vidya, executive engineer (rural development) Senthil and Tiruvallur revenue divisional officer Vijayakumari participated in the inspection, according to a press release from the information and public relations office of the Tiruvallur district collectorate.

கனடாவில் மேலும் 320 பேருக்கு கொரோனா தொற்று

கனடாவில் மேலும் 320 பேருக்கு கொரோனா தொற்று

Updated : ஜூன் 17, 2020 23:04 | Added : ஜூன் 17, 2020 23:01

ஒட்டாவா : கனடாவில் கொரோனா தொற்று அதிகரித்து மேலும் 320 பேர் நோய் தொற்றால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டதாக அந்நாட்டின் சுகாதாரதுறை தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

கொரோனா வைரசின் தாக்கம் உலகின் பல்வேறு நாடுகளையும் அச்சுறுத்தி வருகிறது. கனடாவில் கொரோனா பாதிப்பு குறித்து அந்நாட்டின் பிரதமர் ஜஸ்டின் ட்ரூடோ பல்வேறு கட்ட நடவடிக்கைகளை மேற்கொண்டு வருகிறார். இந்நிலையில் நோய் பாதிப்புகள் அதிகரித்து, நேற்று, ஒரே நாளில் 320 பேர் பாதிக்கப்பட்டனர். 38 பேர் பலியாகினர். கொரோனா தொற்றுக்குபாதிக்கப்பட்டவர்களின் மொத்த எண்ணிக்கை 99,467 ஆக அதிகரித்துள்ளது. மேலும் கனடாவில் இதுவரை 8,213 பேர் பலியாகியுள்ளனர். இதுவரை 61,443 பேர் குணமடைந்துள்ளனர்.

கனடாவின் மொத்த பாதிப்புகளில், பாதியளவு கியூபெக் மாகாணத்தில் பதிவாகிறது. அதன்படி, கியூபெக்கில், புதிதாக 92 பேர் பாதிக்கப்பட்டனர். மொத்தமாக 54,146 பேர் பாதிக்கப்பட்டும், 5,269 பேர் பலியாகியும் உள்ளனர். ஆனால் 22,350 பேர் மட்டும் குணமடைந்து உள்ளனர். அதற்கடுத்ததாக, ஒன்ராறியோவில், புதிதாக 184 பேர் பாதிக்கப்பட்டதுடன், மொத்த பாதிப்புகளின் எண்ணிக்கை 32,744 ஆக உயர்ந்தது. ஒன்ராறியோவில் 2,550 பேர் பலியாகினர். 27,784 பேர் குணமடைந்துள்ளனர். மேலும் அல்பெர்ட்டாவில் 29 பேரும், பிரிட்டிஷ் கொலம்பியாவில் 11 பேரும் பாதிக்கப்பட்டனர். இவ்வாறு தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டது.