State sees a dip in fresh cases, but fatalities at new high of 97

TOLL SO FAR: 3,838

State sees a dip in fresh cases, but fatalities at new high of 97

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:31.07.2020

After reporting nearly 7,000 cases a day for the past one week, Tamil Nadu on Thursday recorded a dip in new Covid cases at 5,864 even as the toll reached a new high with 97 deaths. This took the state’s cumulative tally to 2,39,978 and toll to 3,838.

There were 57,962 people still under treatment after 5,295 people were discharged, taking the total recoveries to 1,78,178. The last time TN saw cases below 6,000 was on July 22 when it recorded 5,849.

Chennai continues to be the hotspot with 1,175 cases compared to 1,117 on Wednesday. Its three neighbours recorded a dip in cases with 854 compared to 1,305 on Wednesday. Chengalpet had 354, Kancheepuram 175 and Tiruvallur 325. With a total of 31,879 people under treatment including 2,876 fresh cases, the 11 northern districts including Chennai account for 55% of the state’s active cases. The northern region also reported 40 deaths, including 18 in Chennai. With that, the region has 2,808 deaths, 2,092 of them in Chennai.

With six out of 10 districts in the southern region recording more than 200 cases each, the region accounts for 25% of the state’s total active cases at 14,616. Tirunelveli had 277 cases followed by 261 in Theni, 248 in Kanyakumari, 244 in Virudhunagar, and 220 each in Tuticorin and Madurai. The region reported 34 deaths with the highest of eight in Tirunelveli, taking the total toll to 650 including 233 in Madurai.

The western region recorded 540 new cases including 303 in Coimbatore. This took the total to 12,797, including 4,529 active cases in the region. Nine deaths took the toll to 123 with 50 in Coimbatore and 30 in Salem. Coimbatore saw its corporation deputy commissioner, Maduranthaki, testing positive and getting hospitalised. Salem at 70 new cases recorded its lowest count in a week. Every day from July 24, it has been seeing more than 100 new cases a day.

With 460 new cases, the central region had a total of 12,871 cases including 4,934 people under treatment. Pudukottai recorded the highest with 128 cases. The region has so far reported 146 deaths, including 14 on Thursday.

TN yet to take call on EWS quota, govt tells HC

TN yet to take call on EWS quota, govt tells HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  31.07.2020

Tamil Nadu is yet to take any policy decision on introducing economically weaker section (EWS) quota for forward communities in the state, the government informed the Madras high court on Thursday.

Justifying that EWS certificates bearing the rider that it could be used only for accessing admission or employment in central government institutions, Tamil Nadu advocate-general Vijay Narayan said the conditions were being included only as per the memorandum issued by the Centre in this regard.

As for the query on whether the income and property certificates being issued to EWS applicants would be accepted in other states, Narayan said it is for the state concerned to decide.

The submission was made in view of a direction passed by a division bench of Justice M M Sundresh and Justice R Hemalatha as to why such a condition had been imposed while issuing the certificate.

The issue pertains to a batch of pleas moved by various Brahmin and other forward caste associations, challenging the state government’s circular instructing tahsildars to stop issuing the certificates.

On July 13, the government submitted that the state has consented to issue the certificates and appropriate instructions have been given to the tahsildars.

Since the consent was accorded with a condition that such certificates can be used to avail 10% reservation only in central government services and educational institutions, the petitioners opposed.

They Record More Than 100 Cases A Day

They Record More Than 100 Cases A Day

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 31.07.2020

The focus of the city corporation’s battle against Covid-19 continues to be the central part, mainly Kodambakkam, Anna Nagar and Ambattur that have recorded a significantly high number of cases in the last two weeks, official data shows.

Though no clusters have emerged, these zones have been recording more than 100 cases daily, officials said. Aggressive testing in slum areas, of contacts and even mildly symptomatic people will continue until the cases drop to less than 100 a day, officials said.

TOI looked at two indicators. One is the increase in the last two weeks in the total number of cases — the sum of active cases, deaths and recoveries. The second indicator is the number of active cases.

Statistics show that Kodambakkam and Anna Nagar recorded around 28% of all total cases in the last two weeks. Ambattur, which is contiguous with Anna Nagar that covers a part of neighbouring Tiruvallur district, had not recorded a high number of cases for many weeks. Now, there has been an increase of 1,721 in the total number of cases.

It is topping the Covid-19 case chart in the city, accounting for the third-highest number of active cases at 1,198. In comparison, Royapuram and Tondiarpet, which were the erstwhile hotspots, have only 806 and 602 active cases.

A senior official told TOI that in Anna Nagar, Kodambakkam and Ambattur a large number of working class citizens had been testing positive. “These are not people living in slums,” the official said. Areas where cases remain high include Attipattu and Padikuppam in Ambattur zone and Saligrammam and Virugambakkam in Kodambakkam zone.

Another official said several people who were employed in industries in Ambattur resided in wards in these three zones and were testing positive.

The officials said the number of daily fresh cases was expected to stabilise to less than 100 in Kodambakkam zone this week, while it Ambattur and Anna Nagar the process could take one more week.

In the southern part, Adyar has emerged as the zone with a significantly high increase in total cases in the last two weeks. A senior Greater Chennai Corporation official said this was in areas like Guindy, Saidapet. Nandanam, RA Puram and Adyar.

“Adyar is the most populous zone with 7lakh-7.5 lakh people. Contrary to popular perception, it is not entirely an affluent area and has many low-income group localities. The daily count of cases is stable and has neither reduced nor increased. About 50% of cases are contacts,” the official said.

TN extends lockdown till Aug 31, 75% staff allowed in pvt offices Ban On Cinemas, Bus, Malls, Gyms Will Continue

TN extends lockdown till Aug 31, 75% staff allowed in pvt offices

Ban On Cinemas, Bus, Malls, Gyms Will Continue

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:31.07.2020

As cases surge across the districts in Tamil Nadu, the state government on Thursday announced extension of the lockdown till August 31. Though the ban on public and private bus transport services, malls, gymnasiums and cinema halls will continue, all private offices and establishments have been allowed to function with 75% workforce.

Intense lockdown will continue to be enforced on all Sundays in August across the state. The state sought to take a measured approach in relaxing the curbs after collectors were keen on continuing the intense lockdown. According to sources, city corporation officials, too, batted for extending the lockdown to help bring the case count below 1,000.

Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said, “The decision to continue the current lockdown is based on the views expressed by district collectors and public health expert besides consultations with senior ministers.” The state had considered resumption of bus services but district collectors raised concerns about the “possible surge” during the meeting with the chief minister on Wednesday. Virudhunagar collector R Kannan had cited the resumption of bus services as reason for the spurt in cases in his district.

On Thursday, health experts appreciated the government’s virus containment strategy and advised a more cautious approach, sources said.

LEAP OF FAITH:

Athletes practice at Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Thursday

NO RELAXATION IN CONTAINMENT ZONES

Schools, colleges & malls to remain shut

The districts, excluding Chennai, recorded 45,177 active cases until Thursday. “There is no backlog of samples for testing beyond 48 hours. It is felt there will be a steady decline in the number of cases in other parts of the state from now on. If the trend stabilises and the cases go down further, we will consider resuming bus services and opening hotels. Currently, the administration has proven that it can manage 7,000 cases a day, but beyond that number, it will be a strain on the health infrastructure,” said a senior government officer.

There will be no relaxation in containment zones. Industrial and commercial establishments are asked to encourage employees to work from home and adhere to standard operating procedures. Status quo will be maintained for rail and air transport and e-passes from district collectors/Greater Chennai Corporation commissioner for inter-district and inter-state movement.

Independence Day will be celebrated in the state, adhering to social distancing norms and wearing of masks.

The chief minister also announced activities that will continue to remain prohibited until further orders. “Based on the intensity of the virus spread, relaxations will be permitted in a phased manner,” the CM said.

Shopping malls, schools, colleges, training and coaching institutions are not permitted. The other prohibited activities include, international air travel of passengers, except permitted by the Union government, metro rail and suburban trains, cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars and auditoriums, assembly halls, beaches, zoological parks, museums and similar places.

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