கரோனாவுக்கும் தடுப்பூசிக்கும் கடும் போட்டி: வெல்லப் போவது யார்?

கரோனாவுக்கும் தடுப்பூசிக்கும் கடும் போட்டி: வெல்லப் போவது யார்?

ஒரு பக்கம் நாள்தோறும் புதிதாக கரோனா பாதிப்பு ஒரு லட்சத்தைத் தொட்டு வரும் நிலையில், ஒரு லட்சத்துக்கும் அதிகமானோருக்கு கரோனா தடுப்பூசி செலுத்தப்பட்டு வருகிறது.

கரோனா தொற்று பாதிப்பு கடந்த ஆண்டு மார்ச் மாதத்தில் இந்தியாவில் அதிகரிக்கத் தொடங்கியது. தற்போது அதன் இரண்டாவது அலை வீசி வருகிறது. ஆனால், ஜனவரி மாதம் தொடங்கிய தடுப்பூசி திட்டத்தின் மூலம் தற்போது வரை 8.70 கோடிப் பேருக்கு தடுப்பூசி போடப்பட்டுள்ளது.

நாட்டில் பொதுமக்களுக்கு போடப்பட்ட மொத்த தடுப்பூசிகளின் எண்ணிக்கை இன்று 8.70 கோடியைக் கடந்தது. இதையடுத்து தடுப்பூசி போடுவதில் அமெரிக்காவை இந்தியா விஞ்சியுள்ளது.

இன்று காலை 7 மணி வரை 8,70,77,474 தடுப்பூசிகள் போடப்பட்டுள்ளன. கடந்த 24 மணி நேரத்தில் 33 லட்சம் தடுப்பூசிகள் போடப்பட்டன. 81வது நாளான நேற்று 33,37,601 தடுப்பூசிகள் போடப்பட்டன. குறிப்பிடத்தக்க முன்னேற்றமாக, உலகில் வேகமாக தடுப்பூசிகள் போடும் நாடுகளில், நாளொன்றுக்கு சராசரியாக 30,93,861 தடுப்பூசிகள் என்ற அளவுடன் இந்தியா அமெரிக்காவை விஞ்சிவிட்டது.

தடுப்பூசி போடும் திட்டத்தை மத்திய அரசு தீவிரப்படுத்தி வரும் அதே நிலையில், நாட்டில் ஒரு நாள் கரோனா பாதிப்பு தொடர்ந்து அதிகரித்து வருகிறது. கடந்த 24 மணி நேரத்தில் 1,15,736 பேருக்கு புதிதாக தொற்று ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது. இவர்களில் 80.70 சதவீதம் பேர் மகாராஷ்டிரம், சட்டீஸ்கர், கர்நாடகம், உத்தரப் பிரதேசம், தில்லி, மத்தியப் பிரதேசம், தமிழ்நாடு மற்றும் கேரளத்தைச் சேர்ந்தவர்கள். நாட்டில் கொவிட் சிகிச்சை பெறுபவர்களின் மொத்த எண்ணிக்கை 8,43,473 ஆக உள்ளது.

தற்போதைய நிலையில், கரோனா பரவலைக் கட்டுப்படுத்த வேண்டும் என்றால், மக்களுக்கு தடுப்பூசி செலுத்தி நோய் எதிர்ப்பு சக்தி அதிகரிக்க வேண்டும். இந்த நிலையை எட்ட ஒட்டுமொத்த மக்கள் தொகையில் சுமார் 60 - 70 சதவீத மக்களுக்கு தடுப்பூசி செலுத்தப்பட வேண்டும். ஆனால், தடுப்பூசி போடும் திட்டம் தொடங்கி 3 மாதங்கள் ஆகியுள்ளன. வெறும் 3 மாநிலங்கள்தான் ஒட்டுமொத்த மக்கள் தொகையில் 5% பேருக்கு தடுப்பூசி போட்டுள்ளது.

தடுப்பூசி போடும் திட்டம் மூன்றாவது கட்டத்தில் உள்ளது. தற்போது 45 வயதுக்கு மேற்பட்ட அனைவரும் தடுப்பூசி போட்டுக் கொள்ளலாம். ஒருவர் இரண்டு டோஸ்கள் போட்டுக் கொள்ள வேண்டும். அப்போதுதான் தடுப்பூசி முழுமைபெறும்.

இதுவரை 45 வயதுக்கு மேற்பட்ட சுமார் 70 சதவீத மக்களுக்கு தடுப்பூசி போடப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதில் சத்தீஸ்கர் மற்றும் குஜராத் மாநிலங்கள்தான் 20 சதவீதத்தை எட்டியுள்ளன. நம் தமிழகத்திலோ 10 சதவீதத்தைக் கூட எட்டவில்லை. அதாவது 45 வயதுக்கு மேற்பட்டவர்களின் மொத்த எண்ணிக்கையில், 10 சதவீதம் பேருக்குக்கூட தடுப்பூசி போடப்படவில்லை.

மறுபக்கம், முதல் அலையை விட இரண்டாம் கரோனா அலை மிக வேகமாக உள்ளது. மகாராஷ்டிரம், மத்தியப் பிரதேசம், குஜராத், சத்தீஸ்கர் ஆகிய மாநிலங்களில், கடந்த ஆண்டு ஒரு நாள் உச்சபட்ச அளவைவிட இரண்டாவது அலையில் அதிகபட்ச பாதிப்புகள் பதிவாகிவிட்டன.

இந்த மாநிலங்களைப் போல அல்லாமல் தில்லி, மேற்கு வங்கம், தெலங்கானா, ஜம்மு - காஷ்மீர் ஆகிய மாநிலங்களில் உச்சபட்ச பாதிப்பில் 30-40% தான் பதிவாகி வருகிறது.

எனவே, ஒரு பக்கம் தடுப்பூசி போடும் திட்டம் தீவிரப்படுத்தப்பட்டு வந்தாலும், மறுபக்கம் கரோனா பரவல், நாள்தோறும் புதிய உச்சங்களைத் தொட்டு வருகிறது. எனவே, இவற்றில் எது வெற்றி பெறப் போகிறது என்பதை நாம்தான் தீர்மானிக்க வேண்டும். கரோனா தொற்றிலிருந்து காக்கத் தேவையான முன்னெச்சரிக்கை நடவடிக்கைகளை நாம் முறையாகப் பின்பற்றினால், பரவல் குறையும், மறுபக்கம் தடுப்பூசி திட்டம் வெற்றிபெறும்.

கடந்த ஆண்டு, கரோனா தொற்றை வீழ்த்தும் ஆயுதம் இன்றி பேரிடருடன் போராடினோம். ஆனால் இந்த முறை தடுப்பூசி எனும் ஆயுதம் உள்ளது. எனவே, எச்சரிக்கையுடன் போராடினால் வெற்றி நிச்சயம்.

Dailyhunt

It’s a moment’s pause then back to work for state’s political leaders

It’s a moment’s pause then back to work for state’s political leaders

Team TOI

08.04.2021

A day after polling ended, a photograph of MNM chief Kamal Haasan with film director Lokesh Kanagaraj seated inside an aircraft was circulated with the caption, “Arambikalaangala?’’ (Shall we begin?) suggesting that the shooting of the actor’s next movie was to commence. If Kamal headed to the shooting spot after a daunting month of campaigning in heat and dust, several other political leaders were relaxing on Wednesday. Most of them, however, either ruled out a vacation or said they are yet to decide on one.

Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami took a break at his house in Salem on Wednesday. Party functionaries said he preferred not to meet them for a day as he was suffering from a sore throat. “He may not take a vacation. He has no plans to travel for the next few days,” said a party functionary.

DMK partymen said they would unwind for a few days depending on the plans of their party chief M K Stalin. For Stalin, it was back to his normal schedule of going to Anna Arivalayam, his party headquarters, around 10am. “He met party leaders and received their feedback on polling,” said a DMK source. With the Covid spike, Stalin is unlikely to travel abroad, the source added.

Deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam was in his home in Bodinayakanur in the morning and later left for Periyakulam. “The deputy CM would visit Chennai in a day or two,” said sources close to him.

AIADMK leaders say they will continue to ‘serve the public’ as they are still ministers and MLAs. “The Covid situation is getting worse. So, it looks like back to routine work for me,” said revenue minister R B Udhayakumar, who was at his office in Madurai meeting party functionaries.

DMK’s PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan who was busy poring over databases to figure out reasons for poor voter turnout in his constituency, said a break was ruled out. “We have to do preparatory work for government formation,” he said.

Tamil Naduu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K S Alagiri spent the day quietly at his village Keerapalayam in Cuddalore district. “I went around our fields and spent time with the family after a long time,” Alagiri told TOI. Alagiri plans to get admitted to a hospital and go for a health overhaul.

It will be a complete rest for PMK founder-leader S Ramadoss and his junior Anbumani Ramadoss until the poll results are announced on May 2. “Both the leaders are with their families at Thailapuram Gardens in Villupuram. There is no specific schedule for the next one month,” said a party spokesperson.

ON TO THE NEXT TASK: The photo tweeted by director Lokesh Kanagaraj on Wednesday indicated that MNM chief and actor Kamal Haasan has begun shoot for his next film. (right) Revenue minister R B Udhayakumar in his office in Madurai

Party workers monitoring strong rooms in for long haul

Party workers monitoring strong rooms in for long haul

Shanmughasundaram.J@timesgroup.com

08.04.2021

After toiling for more than a month electioneering under scorching sun, Tamil Nadu political party leaders are not about to let their guard down. Counting of votes is 23 days away and the DMK and AIADMK leaders have deputed workers to keep vigil round-the-clock at strong rooms, where EVMs are being guarded.

A small group of trusted functionaries from each political party have been deputed for the crucial post-poll duty. They keep a close watch over the 75 counting centres across the state. A few of the functionaries TOI contacted said their party high command had instructed them to take turns to maintain vigil near the counting centres until May 2 when the votes would be counted.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has made elaborate security arrangements. It has deployed armed CRPF personnel in the inner circle (covering the strong rooms) of the three-tier security arrangement, while the TN special police, armed reserve police and local police would be deployed in the outer circle.

“But we don’t want to take any chances,” DMK spokesman Tamilan Prasanna told TOI, recollecting the illegal entry of a tahsildar into a strong room in Madurai after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. “We have deployed a chief agent and a group of functionaries to keep a close watch on the strong room,” said DMK’s Harbour constituency candidate P K Sekar Babu.

“Agents of the political parties, who were given identity cards, will be allowed inside the monitoring room where live feed is screened round-theclock. The footage will be recorded and kept safely until the election results,” said Tirupattur collector M P Sivan Arul.

“We normally keep a watch over the strong rooms during all elections, even at night,’’ said an AIADMK functionary in Coimbatore. Collector S Nagarajan said necessary measures were taken and political party workers need not worry. “The EVMs from all the constituencies were kept inside the strong room and sealed in the presence of cadres from all political parties. They will be opened in their presence only,” he said.

(With inputs from V Mayilvaganan, M K Ananth)

TIGHT VIGIL: CRPF personnel guard a sealed strong room containing EVMs from Trichy west and east constituencies

Offices can hold vax sessions from April 11

Offices can hold vax sessions from April 11

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:   08.04.2021

The health ministry has allowed workplaces — in both public and private sector — to organise vaccination sessions for their employees from April11 to ramp up the exercise amid rising infections.

However, only employees aged 45 years and above can get vaccinated and outsiders, including eligible family members, cannot be vaccinated at such sessions. The move is aimed at making the vaccination drive more “citizencentric” as a substantial proportion of the population aged 45 years and above work in the organised sector of the economy. The ministry also issued guidelines to support states/ UTs to help organise these sessions.

HC: Wear mask even if alone in your car

Upholding a Delhi government decision in 2020 to fine a single occupant of a car if they didn’t wear a mask, the Delhi HC on Wednesday ruled that a mask is a “suraksha kavach” and wearing it is compulsory even if one is driving alone in a private vehicle. This also holds true if one has been vaccinated, it said.

Beneficiaries will need to register on Co-Win portal

Health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in a letter to all states and UTs: “Covid-19 vaccination sessions may be organised at workplaces (both public and private) which are having about 100 eligible and willing beneficiaries by tagging these work places with an existing Covid Vaccination Centre (CVC).”

The sessions will still require beneficiaries to register on the Co-Win portal prior to vaccination, and the workplace management will designate one of its senior staff members to be the nodal officer for coordinating with district health authorities or private CVC and support vaccination activities.

Facility for onsite registration will also be available, but only to employees of the workplace.

“The schedule of vaccination session can be made up 15 days in advance and intimated to the work place so that maximum attendance is ensured on the day of the vaccination.

“In most of the work places vaccination schedule may, however, be completed in less than 15 days,” the guidelines said.

“The work place CVCs staff engaged in COVID-19 vaccination will follow existing SOPs for vaccination and reporting adverse events following vaccination,” it added.

10 states left with just 3-4 days’ vaccine stock

10 states left with just 3-4 days’ vaccine stock

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

18.04.2021 

At a time when Covid cases are rising in the country, about 10 states face dwindling vaccine stocks.

The vaccination drive in Maharashtra’s Gondia district was stopped with the district left with just 20 doses while the drive slowed down in Yavatmal, Akola, Buldhana and Washim. Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, UP, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and West Bengal have stocks that would last them 3-4 days. This has hit plans to ramp up vaccination. In Tamil Nadu, which aims to vaccinate three lakh people a day, now that the assembly elections are over, the stock of 18 lakh doses will last about six days.

Active cases in city cross 10,000-mark

A total of 3,986 fresh cases were recorded in TN on Wednesday and active cases in Chennai breached the 10,000-mark with 1,459 new cases. While 17 deaths took the toll to 12,821, total cases touched 9.11 lakh. The state has 18.18 lakh doses of vaccine and one lakh people were being vaccinated every day. 

Vax crisis has hit plans to ramp up vaccination in many states

Many of these states expect doses to arrive soon and have been pushing the Centre for replenishments.

While Odisha got the intimation that it would receive 3.49 lakh doses of Covishield after April 15, state additional chief secretary (health) Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra wrote to Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Tuesday, seeking immediate supply of 15 lakh to 20 lakh doses of Covishield. With just 6.5 lakh doses left in stock, Odisha can manage to vaccinate people for three more days.

Andhra Pradesh faces a similar predicament. While its next big consignment — 10.8 lakh doses — is expected around April 15, the state can manage to vaccinate people for 3-4 more days. This can get extended by a few days if the scheduled tranche of 2 lakh doses reaches the state on Thursday.

West Bengal too is uncertain about stocks getting replenished. “We have been allotted about 21lakh more doses of Covishield but no date has been confirmed yet,” said Ashim Das Malakar,state family welfare officer. Following Wednesday’s vaccination, the state has about 12 lakh doses left.

Uttar Pradesh health ministerJai PratapSingh said thereis no shortage of vaccines in the state. However, the present stock —12.33 lakh doses —would last about 3-4 days with UP vaccinating 2.5-3 lakh people a day. The state is expecting about 5 lakh doses early next week.

With Punjab inoculating about 1.5 lakh people a day, its existing stock of about 5 lakh doses would pull the vaccination drive for about 4 more days. The state has raised a demand of about 15 lakh doses. The situation is similar in Rajasthan, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand.

The shortage has also hit plans to ramp up vaccination in many states. Rajasthan had ramped up its vaccination to 5 lakh a day on Tuesday and Wednesday. However, its plan to vaccinate 7 lakh day has now hit a roadblock.

(With inputs from Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Bhubaneshwar, Ranchi, Jaipur, Bhopal, Dehradun, Patna, Ahmedabad, Goa, Thiruvananthapuram and Chennai)

HC: All-pass fiat is uninformed political decision

HC: All-pass fiat is uninformed political decision

Sureshkumar.k@timesgroup.com

Chennai:08.04.2021

The state government’s order to cancel all arrear examinations of all college students is nothing but an uninformed political decision, said the Madras high court, making it clear that it is not acceptable to the court.

“It is inconceivable that a whole mass of students will be certificated to have qualified in a system without having basic knowledge in respect of key aspects thereof,” said the first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy on Wednesday.

“There is no doubt that lakhs of students who had thought that they had cleared the particular course after writing their final semester may have to be held back because they did not clear previous papers – at the same time, unqualified persons cannot be certified to have qualified to pursue professional courses or even higher studies,” the judges said.

The bench directed the Tamil Nadu government and the UGC to put their heads together to suggest any ameliorative measures that could be taken by way of an examination or some other method.

The court passed the order while hearing pleas moved by advocate Ramkumar Aditiyan and former vice-chancellor of Anna University E Balaguruswamy challenging the government order.

When the plea came up for hearing on Wednesday, advocate-general Vijay Narayan submitted that the exemption had been granted only to arts and science courses since the regulatory bodies of other professional courses like medicine, engineering and law refused sanction.

Recording the submissions, the bench said, “what appears to have been done by the state is all those who wanted to rewrite their exams as deemed to have passed without conducting any form of test or evaluation.”

Referring to UGC guidelines, the bench said, “it does not provide for such a scenario, nor is it acceptable to the court.”

The court then directed the state to produce the fullest particulars on a university-to-university basis or, if possible, on a college-to-college basis as to the number of such applicants and the number of those who have been found qualified.

The court then adjourned the pleas to April 15 with a direction totheUGCandthestate to indicate what would serve the interest of the relevant students in the best way without compromising on the sanctity of the system, notwithstanding the pandemic.

The bench said the state government’s decision does not adhere to UGC guidelines not is it acceptable to the court

Lost at Kumbh 5 years ago, woman reunited with kin at Maha Kumbh

Lost at Kumbh 5 years ago, woman reunited with kin at Maha Kumbh

MS Nawaz TNN

Haridwar  08.04.2021 

In 2016, Krishna Devi got lost at the Ardh Kumbh Mela in Haridwar. Her family kept looking, filed a missing person complaint and published ads, but no leads came up. Five years on, a routine identity verification drive for another Kumbh Mela — the ongoing Maha Kumbh — suddenly led to the 65-year-old woman in Rishikesh, now reunited with her family at long last.

Krishna Devi’s story goes back to the loss of her daughter in 2016. “Her younger daughter had died. She left home to go to Haridwar. The Ardh Kumbh Mela was on,” sub-inspector of Kumbh Msela police in Rishikesh Deepak Rawat told TOI. Disillusioned and overcome with grief, she drifted away.

Just as the Maha Kumbh Mela started, police launched an identity verification drive. At Triveni Ghat shelter home, they came across Krishna Devi. When they ran her records, they found a missing person complaint from five years ago. Mela police got in touch with their counterparts in Udaipur, where the complaint had been lodged. Her identity confirmed, her family was told she had been found.