ATM robbery solved, bank employee held

ATM robbery solved, bank employee held

02/06/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

The Maduravoyal police on Monday solved the Tamilnadu Mercantile Bank ATM theft case with the arrest of a bank employee.

Over a dozen persons, including bank staff, were interrogated as part of the investigation into the theft of ₹8 lakh from the ATM on Sunday.

The police said the masked suspect arrived in an autorickshaw at the ATM around 12.30 p.m. Sunday and entered the kiosk on the pretext of spraying disinfectant. The suspect opened the machine and was taking out cash.

A customer, who came to deposit cash, grew suspicious and alerted the security guard. By then, the suspect had left the spot with the booty.

Following a complaint filed by bank manager Rajkumar, Maduravoyal police inspector T. Radhakrishnan took up investigation. Mr. Radhakrishan said: “The CCTV footage and good coordination of our team helped solve the case quickly.”

The police gave the name of the suspect as M. Sivanandan, 39, an employee working with another branch of the bank. The accused knew the password as he regularly loaded cash into the machine. He allegedly stole the money to settle a loan taken to build his house at his native place in Thoothukudi district.

Within days after flights resume, all safety norms go for a toss

Within days after flights resume, all safety norms go for a toss

Long queues seen at airport, with no physical distancing

02/06/2020, SUNITHA SEKAR,CHENNAI

A long wait: Though only a limited number of flights were operated on Monday, passengers had to wait in serpentine queues to get in. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Long queues without any physical distancing. Chennai airport seems to have gone back to a pre-COVID-19 era.

Though only a limited number of flights operate every day, the airport is witnessing serpentine queues in two areas — the entry to the terminal and at the security check.

There are only about 40-45 flights that the airport currently handles after airlines resumed domestic operations early last week. But, passengers do not follow physical distancing norms, rendering them vulnerable to contracting the infection from co-passengers.

S. Janaki (name changed), a passenger who recently travelled from Chennai to Bengaluru, said, “It was scary to see people so close to each other. Both passengers and authorities need to be aware of the seriousness of this situation. The responsibility lies on both sides equally. But the authorities could have a volunteer wearing PPE or mask and gloves constantly reminding passengers to maintain distance between one another. Passengers should also realise that their life is at risk and behave responsibly.”

She added that with many passengers coming to the airport hours before their flight, those with earlier flights had to jostle with others in queues.

Airports Authority of India officials insist that they keep urging passengers to stand apart but admit that many disregard their pleas. “We have seen a lot of first-time flyers in the last one week and they are not quite aware of the rules. We keep telling them but the staff are also scared to go very close to passengers,” an official said.

Stanley Medical College Hospital to have 400 more beds for COVID-19

Stanley Medical College Hospital to have 400 more beds for COVID-19

New beds with oxygen lines will be ready in three days, says Vijayabaskar

02/06/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

The PWD has taken up work on priority to ready the 400-bed facility at the Stanley Medical College Hospital. FILE PHOTOB_JOTHI RAMALINGAM

Another 400 beds are getting ready at an old block of the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital in Chennai for handling COVID-19 patients, Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar said on Monday. With this, the hospital will have 900 beds for the patients affected by the pandemic.

“The hospital already has 500 beds as an exclusive COVID-19 facility. We are scaling up facilities in hospitals keeping in mind the requirements,” the Minister said at a press conference. Facilities in all medical college hospitals, district headquarters hospitals, and also in taluk hospitals in some districts such as Perambalur, Ariyalur, Cuddalore, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu and Tiruvallur were being increased. “At the primary health centre-level, we are readying bed facilities and oxygen provision in 30-bed centres,” he said.

The Public Works Department had taken up work on priority to ready the 400-bed facility at Stanley Hospital. “It will be ready in two or three days. All the beds will be in individual rooms with partitions and oxygen lines,” he said.

According to him, measures were being taken to augment manpower. “Already, retired dean of the hospital and doctors from Erode had joined,” he said.

People should compulsorily wear masks and follow physical distancing when utilising public transport. In case of any symptoms of Influenza Like Illness, commuters should not use public transportation and come forward for testing, the Minister said.

Official returns

“There is no need to fear COVID-19,” said A. Ravi, professor of medicine, and COVID-19 Nodal Officer of the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital. After testing positive for COVID-19 and undergoing treatment, he has returned to duty now.

“I was seeing many patients and visiting the COVID-19 outpatient department and wards. I was wearing masks and personal protective equipment, and following hand hygiene. Despite all safety precautions, I developed high grade fever nearly 15 days ago. Then, I started to experience fatigue that was followed by dry cough. I decided to undergo testing, and my swab returned positive for COVID-19,” he said.

Isolating himself, Dr. Ravi was admitted to the hospital and underwent treatment. “I started to experience signs of improvement from the 10th day. Another swab returned negative for COVID-19. After taking rest for two days, I returned for work,” he said.

In his experience at the hospital, he said patients with uncontrolled diabetes were affected the most. “It is not only important to take medication but also periodically check sugar levels and ensure that it is under control. There is no need to fear, and one can recover well,” he said.

With a number of senior doctors testing positive at the hospital, he said most of them tested negative for COVID-19, and were all set to return to duty.

State govt. issues SOP for chartered flights

State govt. issues SOP for chartered flights

People coming in from abroad to be tested on Day 1 of arrival and again on Day 7

02/06/2020,DENNIS S. JESUDASANCHENNAI

The Tamil Nadu government on Monday issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for chartered flight services within, to and from the State, as well as services to and from other countries. Passengers taking chartered flights within Tamil Nadu or from other States must get a TN ePass before boarding the plane.

According to the SOP issued by Chief Secretary K. Shanmugam on Monday, all persons arriving in Tamil Nadu on chartered flights from abroad would be tested through the RT-PCR method on Day 1 of arrival and on Day 7.

They would “have to undergo paid institutional quarantine for seven days. If the test is positive, they will be taken to the hospital”.

Exemption from testing

The passengers will be tested again on Day 7. “If the test taken on Day 7 also returns negative, they can be sent to home quarantine for seven days. If quarantine facilities are not available in their house, put them in facility quarantine in the respective districts for seven more days,” the SOP stated.

RT-PCR testing is mandatory for passengers from Maharashtra, Delhi and Gujarat. “However, if they produce COVID-19 negative certificates issued by an ICMR-approved lab (within two days of testing), they will be exempted from testing,” the SOP said.

If the individual tests positive, he/she would be taken to a hospital and treated as per protocol. If the individual tests negative, he/she has to undergo home quarantine for seven days, and self-monitor their health for seven more days.

Business travellers

“Persons travelling on a business trip who intend to return within 48 hours are exempted from quarantine. Otherwise, the individual has to undergo home quarantine for seven days. The individual shall self-monitor his/her health for seven more days,” the guidelines stated.

All passengers on chartered flights travelling within, to and from Tamil Nadu and to and from other countries must be subjected to thermal scanning before boarding. Individuals with COVID-19 symptoms would not be allowed to travel.

As for flights within Tamil Nadu, testing is mandatory for individuals travelling from Chennai to other places in the State. “However, if they produce a COVID-19 negative certificate issued by an ICMR-approved lab (within two days of testing), they will be exempted from testing,” the SOP said.

Persons travelling on a business trip who intend to return within 48 hours are exempt from quarantine.

“Otherwise, the individual has to undergo home quarantine for 7 days. The individual shall self-monitor his/her health for seven more days,” the SOP added.

As regards passengers leaving for other States or other countries from Tamil Nadu, they have to adhere to the receiving State’s/country’s COVID-19 protocol for travel, testing and quarantine.

Tamils stranded in Singapore seek State govt. help to get back home

Tamils stranded in Singapore seek State govt. help to get back home

02/06/2020, SANJAY VIJAYAKUMAR,CHENNAI

Many Tamils stranded in Singapore have requested the Tamil Nadu government to arrange flights to facilitate their return to the State.

“Many people have lost jobs and are struggling here. They are unable to go back to Tamil Nadu as there are no flights. We have a WhatsApp group for people from Tamil Nadu stuck in Singapore. There are senior citizens who need medical treatment and pregnant ladies who are desperate to return. With job losses, it is difficult to survive, given the cost of living factor,” said Ramasubramanian of Karaikudi, who is among those stranded in Singapore.

Not a single flight has been operated from Singapore to destinations in Tamil Nadu under the Vande Bharat Mission, he said.

Anitha, who works in Singapore, said her husband came there on a ‘dependent pass’ in February, and has been stranded there since.

“He is a diabetic and needs treatment from his doctor in Chennai. Flights are being operated from Singapore to northern States in India, but not to Tamil Nadu,” she said. Ms. Anitha said that even if flights were operated to destinations like Tiruchi, it would be helpful.

Mr. Ramalingam, who hails from Kumbakonam and is working in Singapore, said he had to come back for medical treatment for suspected tuberculosis.

Mr. Ramasubramanian said tourists and students were also stranded in Singapore.

Cases at Secretariat spark calls for scaling down staff strength

Cases at Secretariat spark calls for scaling down staff strength

At least 10 workers infected; assn. wants departments to function with 33% staff

02/06/2020,DENNIS S. JESUDASAN  CHENNAI

A file picture of the Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai building inside the Secretariat premises.

With at least 10 employees from various government departments on the Secretariat campus in Chennai having tested positive for COVID-19, the Tamil Nadu Secretariat Association (Tansa) has requested the State government to revert to the earlier system of allowing departments to function with only 33% staff. The government had recently increased the permissible staff strength to 50%.

On Monday alone, four employees from three departments tested positive for COVID-19, multiple sources confirmed. While some employees sought the closure of the Secretariat for at least two days, others said it should be allowed to function with only 33% staff.

“When only two employees of the Southern Railway headquarters tested positive, the campus was sealed for two days and disinfected. But here, we have more cases. In what way is the virus in the Railways different from the one at the Secretariat?” a staff member asked. But another staff member contended that the Secretariat was the nerve centre of the entire State, and hence, it cannot be sealed. “It cannot be called a COVID-19 cluster as of yet,” the employee said.

Tansa president S. Peter Antonysamy said the Association had submitted representations to various departments, pressing certain demands. “The Public (Buildings) Department has kindly accepted many of our requests. It has installed sanitiser dispensers and is disinfecting the premises regularly,” he said.

Tansa had also requested that departments be allowed to function with only 33% staff, since a few cases had been reported, he said, adding: “We have also requested that pregnant women, employees above 55 years of age and those with diabetes and other health issues be exempted from having to report for work. The primary concern is that it (the virus) should not spread.”

When contacted, a senior official told The Hindu: “We have been regularly cleaning the premises, and hand sanitisers are available on all floors. We have disinfected the floors on which cases were reported, and have sent all the contacts of these positive cases to quarantine.”

Clashes outside White House, more U.S. cities under curfew

Clashes outside White House, more U.S. cities under curfew

President Donald Trump spends nearly an hour in a bunker amid fury

02/06/2020, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE,WASHINGTON

Growing rage: A protester throwing a U.S. flag into a burning barricade during a demonstration against the death of George Floyd near the White House on Sunday. AFP

The police fired tear-gas outside the White House late on Sunday as anti-racism protesters again took to the streets to voice fury at police brutality. Major U.S. cities were put under curfew to suppress rioting.

With the Trump administration branding instigators of six nights of rioting as domestic terrorists, there were more confrontations between protesters and the police and fresh outbreaks of looting.

Violent clashes erupted repeatedly in a small park next to the White House, with authorities using tear-gas, pepper spray and flash bang grenades to disperse crowds that lit several large fires and damaged property.

Secret Service agents rushed President Donald Trump to a White House bunker on Friday night as hundreds of protesters gathered outside the executive mansion. Mr. Trump spent nearly an hour in the bunker, which was designed for use in emergencies like terrorist attacks, according to a Republican close to the White House.

Local leaders appealed to citizens to give constructive outlet to their rage over the death of an unarmed black man in Minneapolis.

One closely watched protest was outside the state capitol in Minneapolis’ twin city of St. Paul, where several thousand people gathered before marching down a highway.

The Minneapolis police later reported that they had discovered caches of home-made fire-bombs around the two cities. There were other large-scale protests on Sunday night, including in New York and Miami.

In Louisville, Kentucky, CBS affiliate WLKY-TV reported the local police chief as saying law enforcement shot and killed a man early Monday morning as they broke up a crowd, although it was unclear if the group was taking part in protests.

Looting was reported on Sunday night in Philadelphia and the Los Angeles suburb of Santa Monica, and images on Fox TV showed ransacked Rolex and Gucci stores in New York city.

The shocking death last Monday of George Floyd at the hands of the police in Minneapolis ignited the nationwide wave of outrage over law enforcement’s repeated use of lethal force against unarmed African Americans.