Chennai Buzz: Corporation starts post-COVID follow-up | Infra projects resume | Virus attack in zoo…and more

Weekly recap of important news from your city.

COVID: Corporation vaccinates traders, post-COVID follow-up initiated

In a bid to prevent the Wholesale Market Complex at Koyambedu from becoming a COVID hotspot once again, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has vaccinated 239 traders, workers and others as on June 10th. 

With the second wave of the pandemic subsiding, the number of containment zones has decreased in Chennai and is currently less than 100. By June 7th, the number of containment zones fell down to 81 from 365 a month ago at the height of the second wave. 

The civic body has initiated post-COVID follow-up care for recovered residents of the city. This comes in the wake of patients complaining of a variety of health issues after recovery. Each patient will be followed-up for any post-COVID complications for a period of three months. 

Residents will receive calls on post-COVID-19 follow-up from 9498015100 / 9498015200 / 9498015300 / 9498015400.

Source: The Times of India | The Hindu


Read more: Chennai How GCC’s telemedicine services are helping manage this COVID wave


Infrastructure projects resumed

With the drop in fresh COVID cases, Chennai Corporation has shifted its focus to resuming infrastructural projects pending across the city. 

In the light of the pandemic, projects like T Nagar skywalk, Villivakkam-Kolathur railway over bridge, relaying of 2,000 bus routes and interior roads and storm water drains were stalled.

The skywalk project that connects Mambalam railway station to T Nagar bus terminus was paused as it required oxygen for welding. The demand for oxygen for medical reasons was extremely high among COVID patients and that need was prioritised. An official stated that they are trying to ensure the skywalk will be open to the public by next January. 

Source: The Times of India

Canine Distemper Virus attacks lions at Zoo

With the Asiatic lions at the Arignar Anna Zoological Park testing positive for COVID-19, the zoo faces another problem — Canine Distemper Virus (CDV). A 19-year-old lion named Ragave and the deceased lioness, Neela tested positive for CDV

It may be noted that a previous CDV outbreak at Gujarat’s Gir forest led to unprecedented casualty of Asiatic lions. 

The test reports of Ragave reveal the lion has tested negative for COVID and positive for CDV. The lion has been isolated and an expert team from Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) is at the zoo to monitor the condition.

On the death of Neela, health director Dr G Dhinakar Raj stated that the clinical manifestation of lioness was more towards COVID. The expert also warned that CDV could be lethal with a fatality rate of 50% in adults and 80% in young animals. As vaccination against CDV is not part of the guidelines, the lions are unvaccinated. In general, stray dogs carry CDV virus. As the number of stray dogs is high, Dhinakar exercised caution to vaccinate the dogs at the zoo to prevent an outbreak.

Source: The New Indian Express

Metro calls for bids for appointing a consultant

Five years after inauguration, Chennai metro still sports the disabled-unfriendly tag. Pic: CMRL

The Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has called for bids to designate a general consultant to monitor the construction activities in corridor 4 and portions of corridors 3 and 5. 

China-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, which is funding a part of the construction expenses, will be appointing the consultant. The consultant is required to provide expertise during the stages of construction and help find ways to expedite the work in corridor 3 and monitor the activities in corridor 4. 

The contract for constructing a 7.95 km elevated viaduct in corridor 4, that connects Poonamallee Bypass to Light House, has been awarded to Hindustan Construction Company Ltd and KEC International Ltd.

The contract to construct an elevated viaduct from Power House to Porur Junction has been awarded to L&T. 

Source: DT Next

[Compiled by Bhavani Prabhakar]

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