No community spread, all under control in TN, says CM

No community spread, all under control in TN, says CM

‘Stalin Is The Only Leader Politicizing Pandemic’

Subburaj.A @timesgroup.com

Coimbatore:26.06.2020

The spread of coronavirus is under control in Tamil Nadu because of the efforts taken by the state government in the last 90 days, said chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday.

The CM, who chaired a meeting to review Covid-19 containment measures and development projects in the city, told reporters that there was no community transmission in the state. “We have traced all the source of the infection. We (officials and media) could not have gathered here if there was community spread,” Palaniswami said.

He said that he would visit all the districts in the state to check on the containment measures taken to halt the spread of coronavirus and other development work.

“DMK chief MK Stalin is the only leader in India to politicize Covid-19 pandemic. Stalin has not given any valid suggestions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 to the state government. He is spreading rumours against the government,” Palaniswami reacted to DMK leader’s charge that the state government had wasted 90 days of lockdown without containing the spread of the virus.

“DMK failed to follow the state government’s instruction while distributing relief materials. At least 500 people were affected with Covid-19 due to this,” he said.

On the custodial deaths of a father-son duo in Sathankulam, the chief minister said the state government would take steps as directed by the Madras high court.

The CM said the Director General of Police (DGP) had been instructed to advise all the policemen in the state to treat the traders politely. He said Athikadavu -Avinashi ground water recharge project would be completed by December 2021. In the second phase of the project, Karamadai, Annur, Periyanaickenpalayam and few other areas will be added in the project. To implement the Anamalayar-Nallaru project, the state government will hold talks with the Kerala government soon.

The chief minister said a detailed project report would be prepared for implementation of metro train project in Coimbatore. “Once the DPR is prepared, we will seek permission from the Union government to implement the project,” he said.

He said the state government has not received any report in connection with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) taking over the co-operative credit societies. “We came to know that co-operative credit societies located in urban areas will come under RBI,” he said.

If any private financiers are threatening the self-help group (SHGs) members for immediate return of loan amount during Covid-19 situation, the SHG members can approach the state government. Action will be initiated against the financiers, Palaniswami said.

MAKING A QUICK STOP: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, minister S P Velumani, a few MLAs, and officials made a surprise stop at Gandhipuram central bus stand in Coimbatore, where the CM got into a bus and interacted with passengers. He advised them to maintain social distancing and wear face masks without fail. He asked a few passengers waiting to board buses whether they had received the state government’s Covid-19 relief assistance. He interacted with some shopkeepers and checked the quality of masks on sale

Flu season: Kids sniffle, doctors say don’t worry

Flu season: Kids sniffle, doctors say don’t worry

Aditi.R@timesgroup.com

Chennai:26.06.2020

With the flu season kicking in, parents need not mistake every sniffle for Covid-19. Doctors say it's common for toddlers and young children to show flu-like symptoms during this time of the year. They have advised parents nottoworry but at also asked them to be cautious..

“The symptoms of both Covid and seasonal flu are quite similar," said Dr Jaya Kumar Reddy, consultant pediatrician Apollo Children’s Hospital. He said both have cough, fever, sore throat, but the flu only lasts for a couple of days and the child recovers on its own. "Also, we've found that in 85% of cases children contract the virus only when they come in contact with someone within their family who has the disease or through neighbours or if they have any recent travel history. If all these are absent, and the child has remainedindoorswiththeothers, they are unlikely to be affected by it,” he said. Experts say weather change has led to panic among parents who are confusing the symptoms of seasonal flu with that of Covid-19. Doctors and pediatricians in the city said they have been getting no less than 10 calls a day from anxious parents.

Change in climate can usually cause sneezing, fever, runny nose, and cough in children, this is natural, said Dr. Suresh Natarajan, senior consultant - general pediatrics, pediatric pulmonology and pediatric allergy specialist from the Rainbow Children's Hospital. "They might start experiencing it in the morning, it will persist in the afternoon, go on till the evening, and the next day. But this seasonal change is unlikely to cause high-grade fever, lasting for days, which is one of the symptoms of Covid.”

The doctor said the easiest way to identify if it is a seasonal flu/infection or Covid is by noting down the child’s temperature and following up for the next 24 hours. If the temperatureis above100°F andthehigh fever persists the next day with fatigue,dry cough, andthechild loses the sense of smell, they can then suspect Covid and it’s better to consult a doctor.

Doctors also urged parents to not skip vaccinations, including that for chickenpox and measles. Many parents are scared to go to clinics now. Dr. Jaya Kumar said most infectious diseases like chickenpox have vaccines and are easily preventable. "These vaccines cannot prevent Covid19, but if a child gets infected with any of the preventable diseases and also Covid, it can be very dangerous. Parents must get their children vaccinated on time, they must not skip it,” he said.

Going for a walk in the morning can cost you

Going for a walk in the morning can cost you

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  26.06.2020

Walking within a 2km radius to buy essentials or medicines is OK, but beware if you plan a morning walk in the same area. Greater Chennai Corporation has fined hundreds of people between ₹100 and ₹300 for strolling well within the allowed area. Some were not wearing masks; others didn’t follow distancing norms.

A 62-year-old walker who didn’t want to be named told TOI he was fined on Wednesday. “I told the civic body officials I had strayed just 500 metres away. Pondy Bazaar pedestrian plaza was constructed for us. Yet, I didn’t want to argue. I will not go for walks anymore.”

A senior corporation official said many morning walkers were starting small groups that cannot be allowed. “We have been asked to enforce rules strictly and we cannot help but ask them not to come out.”

But, what does one do to stay fit? Sandhya V of Anna Nagar, a social activist, said walkers should be allowed as long as they maintain distancing norms and wear masks. “It won’t harm anyone. People who live alone will go crazy.”

Cycling enthusiast V Padmapriya said many were trying out alternatives as they were not allowed to cycle. “I am doing small exercises, climbing stairs to remain sane,” she said.

While some members of Chennai Runners-Pillar Pacers, a walking community, say they walk within their homes, fitness trainer Nithya Nandhini said walking wasn’t wrong if within the rules. “Not everyone can be confined inside the house. I can self motivate myself and stay fit but not everyone can do this…”

Psychologist Shalini Somesh said mental fitness is the key. “People need to create little joys and opt for yoga and meditation ... it will get even more difficult in the coming days. Better to find an alternative if the civic body is putting curbs.”

Centre gave ₹6,600cr in three months to TN for fighting virus, says FM

Centre gave ₹6,600cr in three months to TN for fighting virus, says FM

Govardan.D@timesgroup.com

Chennai:  26.06.2020

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said the Centre has given ₹6,600 crore to Tamil Nadu for buying medical equipment and accessories for fighting Covid-19. Her announcement has come as a surprise as chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has been repeatedly urging the Centre to release funds to help the state fight the pandemic.

“We have given ₹6,600 crore to TN for buying ventilators, medical equipment and accessories including masks. This has been given to the state so far in the first three months of this financial year,” Nirmala Sitharaman told a virtual rally organized for BJP workers in Tamil Nadu from New Delhi about achievements of the BJP government’s first year in its second term. I have not heard those numbers (₹6,600 crore), a senior state finance department official told TOI.

CM’s relief fund got ₹378cr: EPS

Since I did not listen to what Nirmala Sitharaman spoke at the rally, it will be difficult for me to comment on that,” he said.

Sitharaman’s announcement though could set off a political debate in the state, the CM in a statement on June 7 had said the state government has sanctioned ₹4,333 crore towards efforts to fight the pandemic. In addition, CM’s Relief Fund received ₹378.96 crore from corporates and individuals among others, Palaniswami has said.

In her address at the virtual rally, Sitharaman also said that 1.22 crore women in Tamil Nadu have received ₹610 crore at ₹500 a month for April and May directly through their Jan Dhan accounts. Since the lockdown, around 47,000 MSMEs in Tamil Nadu received ₹1,937 crore as “emergency credit” loan to restart their operations, while an additional ₹4,352 crore has been sanctioned to MSMEs under the collateral free credit guarantee scheme, she said.

Next vaccine challenge: Finding enough vials

Next vaccine challenge: Finding enough vials

How soon can we have a coronavirus vaccine? The answer depends on not only the pace of work in research labs but also the preparedness of factories to supply enough glass vials and stoppers. Recent reports point to shortages

Abhilash.Gaur@timesgroup.com  26.06.2020

The pandemic started with a shortage of masks and personal protective equipment. Then, as all countries tried to step up coronavirus testing, they ran into a shortage of chemicals. And now, it seems likely that the vaccines that come out of research labs in the next few months might face distribution problems because there aren’t enough vials to fill them in.

BILLIONS OF VIALS

A Reuters report says about 50 billion glass containers are used for medical work every year. Of these, 15-20 billion are medical vials. To vaccinate just half the world’s population, another 3.5 billion vials will be needed. Twice as many if the vaccine needs a booster shot after a month. That’s a massive increase of almost 25%, at least.

“The challenge is not so much to make the vaccine itself, it’s to fill vials. There’s not enough vials in the world,” a Poynter report quotes Pascal Soriot, CEO of drugmaker AstraZeneca, which has started human trials of a vaccine developed by Oxford university.

GLASS CEILING

The problem begins with a global shortage of glass. Vaccine vials are not made from cheap soda-lime glass, which is alright for windows and kitchenware but leaches out chemicals that can contaminate a vaccine. Instead, they are made from borosilicate glass, which is chemically stable and can withstand long refrigeration and the knocks of transportation. But this type of glass makes up only 10% of the world’s glass production, says a Quartz report.

It’s not easy to increase the supply of glass because the world is facing a severe shortage of sand — the main raw material.

The alternative is to recycle glass, which is cheaper and more energy-efficient. However, a Fast Company report says lockdowns have hit glass collection, segregation and recycling.

NEXT STOP

Just as important as vials are their tiny latex stoppers. These also need to be made from a high-quality material that will not contaminate the vaccine, and only a handful of companies make them. Why can’t more companies make stoppers? It’s because each type of stopper is tested and approved by the drug authorities. You can’t just switch to a slightly different product or another brand.

MAKING MORE

Nor is it possible to divert the supply of vials and stoppers from, say, the flu vaccine to the Covid vaccine. Every vaccine is important, and already public immunisation programmes have been derailed due to lockdowns.

So, the vial shortage is worrying. Rick Bright, former director of America’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), warned in May that “it could take up to two years to produce enough vials for US vaccine needs.” India has about four times more people than the US.

TEN-IN-ONE VIALS

Even then, it might not be possible to make several billion more vials in a year, and the top vaccine firms have hinted that they might have to distribute the vaccine in vials that contain 5-10 doses each, although this can be risky.

“Getting to five or 10 vaccines per vial is probably going to be essential to be able to cope with the volume. The capacity is not there to do it in the billions,” Paul Stoffels, chief scientific officer at Johnson & Johnson, said early this month.

Schott AG, the world’s biggest supplier of borosilicate glass, has also said they and other glass makers might be able to add only 1 billion vials for the Covid vaccine.

LU graduate moves court against exams in July

LU graduate moves court against exams in July

26/06/2020

HT Correspondent

letters@htlive.com

lucknow : A Lucknow University law gaduate has filed a writ petition in the Lucknow bench of Allahabad high court pleading that the exam schedule proposed by the University be quashed considering the rise of Covid-19 cases in the state.

The appellant Saksham Agarwal, a medal winner from the University said, “I filed the writ petition after many of my juniors who are completing their education in Lucknow University told me about the hasty decision of holding exams.

The University is trying to force its ways by risking the lives of students. This must not happen. He added the petition has been considered for urgent hearing by the court.

The controversy over exams in LU began after the University announced the schedule for exams early this month. The LU exams are scheduled from July 7.

htc

Doc who took his own sample tests +ve

Doc who took his own sample tests +ve

26/06/2020

HT Correspondent

letters@htlive.com

LUCKNOW : A resident doctor, video of whom showing him taking his own Covid-19 sample had gone viral on June 12, tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday.

“The resident doctor had attended a patient who tested positive two days before hence his sample was also taken on Wednesday and the result came positive,” said Dr Srikesh Singh, spokesperson of the Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS).

The resident doctor is of the neuro-surgery department at RMLIMS.

“The sample on June 12 did not test positive. Five more medical staff who were in contact of the resident doctor have been sent in quarantine and their sampling will be done,” said Dr Srikesh.

The doctor’s video had gone viral on June 12 when he had gone to the female ward in the hospital wing asking nurses to take his coronavirus sample for routine check-up. One of the nurses had recorded his video.

All other nurses in the ward had objected as such sampling is done in specified area and not in a non-COVID ward. The nurses had repeatedly asked him to leave the ward and get sampling done in specified areas. But the doctor sat on a chair and took his swab samples on his own. The institute administration had taken cognizance of the matter (viral video).

He is the third resident doctor in the state capital to have tested positive for coronavirus, the earlier two being from King George’s Medical University. RMLIMS has a 100-bed COVID hospital made on the Shaheed Path women and child wing while non-COVID patients are treated on the Gomti Nagar campus.