AMMK cut votes of AIADMK+ in 21 seats

AMMK cut votes of AIADMK+ in 21 seats

D.Govardan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:04.05.2021

Politics may not be a pure play of arithmetic. But alliance arithmetic does play a role in electoral politics.

Take the case of T T V Dhinakaran’s AMMK. It has been annihilated in the assembly poll, with even Dhinakaran losing from Kovilpatti, and the votes the party polled got halved to10.57 lakh from the 21 lakh in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. However, election results show it played spoilsport for the AIADMK in not just south and central regions, but also in a few pockets in the north.

Back-of-the-envelope calculations indicate that AMMK candidates stood between the AIADMK alliance and victory in at least 21 assembly seats -- the votes polled by AMMK was higher than the margin of victory for the DMK alliance. While in a few seats, AIADMK alliance candidates could have romped home with a wide margin, in a few others they could have scraped through had AMMK been part of their camp.

The votes polled by the AMMK helped 12 DMK candidates and six Congress candidates, besides one each from the MDMK, the CPM and the VCK win. In the process,17 AIADMK candidates and three candidates of the PMK, besides one from the BJP, lost.

A month or two before the election process was set in motion and much before the release of V K Sasikala from the Bengaluru prison, the BJP’s central leadership had mooted the idea of accommodating AMMK into the alliance.

“While AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam was receptive to the idea, chief ministerEPS, based on feedback from few trusted ministers, opposed it. The BJP even mooted the idea of setting aside 30 seats from its quota to accommodate AMMK, but that proposal was rejected by AIADMK,” sources privy to the developments said.

Tougher TN curbs from May 6 to 20

Tougher TN curbs from May 6 to 20

Chennai:04.05.2021

The Tamil Nadu government on Monday night announced new Covid-19 restrictions which will be in force between 4am May 6 and 4am on May 20.

Standalone grocery and vegetable shops will be allowed to function without airconditioning till noon. Only 50% customers would be allowed at a time while all other shops will be disallowed. “Essential services like pharmacies and milk supply will be permitted as usual,” an official release said. All government and private offices will be allowed to function with a maximum of 50% workforce.

Only 50% seating capacity will be alllowed in passenger trains, metro trains, private and government buses and rental taxis. All social/political/sports/entertainment/education/cultural events are prohibited in closed and open spaces. TNN

Tea shops will be allowed only till noon

An official release read, “Considering the recommendations of the home and health ministries of the Union government to prevent Covid spread and to intensify preventive measures, the new restrictions are imposed in terms of unavoidable reasons.”

The government had already prohibited big format shops, shopping complexes and malls from April 26 onwards.

Takeaway service is alone permitted in restaurants/hotels/mess. Teashops will be allowed till noon while door delivery of food alone is permitted at hotels and lodges.

Cinema theatres will not function.

The government had earlier given a ceiling of 25 people for wedding-related gathering and funeral. It has now decided to permit only a maximum of 20 people.

“Beauty parlours and spas have already been prohibited in corporations and municipalities. Now, beauty parlours spas will not be allowed in containment zones of the rural areas,” the release said.

The previous restrictions during night curfew and Sunday lockdown would continue.

As ordered earlier, fish markets, chicken and meat stalls will not be allowed on Saturdays (and Sundays due to Sunday lockdown).

They will be allowed rest of the week between 6am and noon.

The government had earlier fixed a ceiling of 25 people for weddings and funerals. It has now decided to permit 20 people

NEET-PG put off, interns to join Covid war

NEET-PG put off, interns to join Covid war

New Delhi:04.05.2021

The government has decided to postpone NEETPG for at least four months and the exam will not be held before August 31 while medical interns will be deployed for Covid-19 duty under the supervision of faculty.

Students will be given a month’s time before the NEETPG is held. The decision, taken at a review meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is cited as a step that will make a large number of qualified doctors available for Covid duties. The government said states and UTs must make all efforts to reach out to prospective NEET candidates and request them to join the Covid –19 workforce. “The services of final year MBBS students can be utilised for providing services like teleconsultation and monitoring of mild Covid cases under supervision of faculty,” said an official announcement. TNN

Measures aim to reduce workload on doctors

The measures will reduce workload on existing doctors engaged in Covid duty and provide boost to efforts of triaging. It has also been decided that services of final year PG students (broad as well as super-specialities) as residents may continue to be utilised until fresh batches of PG students have joined. Also BSc and GNM qualified nurses may be utilised in full-time Covid nursing duties under the supervision of senior doctors and nurses. The PMO statement asserts that individuals providing services in Covid management will be given priority in forthcoming regular government recruitments after they complete a minimum of 100 days of Covid duty. Also health professionals will be covered under the insurance scheme of the government for health workers engaged in fighting Covid-19. Listing out the incentives, the statement said, “All such professionals who sign up for minimum100 days of Covid duty and complete it will also be given the Prime Minister’s Distinguished Covid National Service Samman from Government of India.” It was decided that states can make available additional health professionals to private Covid hospitals as well in surge areas.

“The vacant posts of doctors, nurses, allied professionals and other healthcare staff in health and medical departments be filled through accelerated processes within 45 days through contractual appointments,” it was decided at the review.

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Pvt ambulance charges ₹80k for keeping body in freezer

Pvt ambulance charges ₹80k for keeping body in freezer

Haridwar:  02.05.2021 

A private ambulance driver on Saturday demanded Rs 80,000 to keep the body of a retired BHEL official who had died of Covidon Thursday for a day and a half (36 hours), reports MS Nawaz. Family members of the former Haridwar-based PSU Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) had requested the emergency vehicle to keep the body in a deep freezer box till the time his son could arrive for the last rites.

After a complaint was raised with the Haridwar sub divisional magistrate (SDM) regarding the matter, the ambulance was seized.

Doctors: Physiotherapy key for rehabilitation of Covid patients

Doctors: Physiotherapy key for rehabilitation of Covid patients

Moulika.KV@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:  02.05.2021 

As the state continues to witness a surge in Covid-19 cases, which is not only affecting older adults but also the younger population, doctors discussed the crucial role of physiotherapy that not just helps in recovery but can also prove to be a boon for patients amid the second wave of the Covid pandemic.

According to the physiotherapists on the front line TOIspoke to, they are seeing a range of people in hospital, from those in their early 30s through to people in their 80s and say that if symptoms of Covid are not managed on time, they can have a prolonged limitation in functional capacity, hamper the quality of life and delay return to work and normal routine.

“It is important to note that Covid-19 patients benefit immensely from physiotherapy which can prevent risk of ICU acquired weaknesses and promote rapid functional recovery,” said Dr Thomas Parey, senior physiotherapist, Apollo Health City. Physiotherapists also said that for many patients admitted to the hospital with Covid-19, surviving the virus is only half of the battle. “Once deemed virus-free, it is often a long road to recovery including rebuilding lung capacity and overall respiratory health. To combat such problems and prevent risk of ICU acquired weaknesses, it is important that they consider physiotheraphy which helps promote rapid functional recovery,” said Dr Thomas.

As per WHO guidelines, physiotherapy can play an important role in the rehabilitation of patients with Covid to improve lung function and oxygen saturation levels, apart from other symptoms. “Since there is infection in the lung, there will be respiratory distress. So we are training the lung muscles for them to become strong. In Covid-19 patients, the air will not go to the lower end of the lung. Physiotherapy exercises to improve lung function helps air goes deep into the lungs more easily,” said Dr Mahmood Hussain, physiotherapy HOD, Care Hospitals.