Articles by News Desk

Up to two million school children in Bengaluru are exposed to dangerous air pollution during their school day, risking asthma, allergic rhinitis and other chronic health impacts, according to a report produced by the Global Climate and Health Alliance (GCHA) and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL). The report was released by Healthy Air Coalition, Bengaluru, last week. Healthy Air Coalition brings together various stakeholders such as health researchers, heart and lung doctors, and public health institutes and patients to collaborate on air monitoring initiatives, share information about air pollution and health, build the capacity of health professionals, and provide insights…

COVID-19: Additional screening centres set-up, more oxygen beds added The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has set-up nine new triaging/screening centres in addition to the 12 existing centres. Besides the new facilities, a 24*7 screening facility is in the works at Kendriya Vidyalaya, near Island Grounds. This will ensure that residents, who develop severe symptoms during the night, get treatment on priority.  The government hospitals in Chennai have 2,545 oxygen beds and 3,129 non-oxygen beds earmarked for COVID-19 patients. Special coordinator for GCC, MA Siddique stated that more oxygen points will be added to the beds available at the Chennai Trade…

Vaccination drive halted; city out of doses A lack of vaccine availability has led to all 136 vaccination centres across Mumbai being declared shut until May 2nd. BMC received its last big stock of 1.58 lakh doses on Sunday night. It had then said the stock will last only till Wednesday. On Wednesday night, it received an additional 70,000 doses which too did not last for long. A person waiting in the queue outside NESCO centre on Thursday, April 29th, said that “No one picks up the helpline numbers. They are dead most of the time." Many residents have noted…

No to crematorium in landfill The BBMP’s proposal to create an ‘open crematorium’ at Mavallipura land-fill has angered many in the village and surrounding areas. Villagers have started a dharna at the landfill site, even as work started to create a temporary cremation ground for COVID victims for the next two months. On Wednesday afternoon, police and revenue officials visited the landfill site in Mavallipura, on the city outskirts, to inspect and start preparations. Clearly, appeals by villagers did not deter the site-visit. Activists of the Environment Support Group said that the Karnataka High Court has ordered the BBMP to…

Need a a COVID bed at a hospital in Mumbai? Promising a bed to someone in need of it? Please read what BMC has to say. Dated 24th April, 9:25 p.m. https://twitter.com/mybmc/status/1385985789419343872?s=20 Ward War Rooms - Only Authority To Allocate Beds We appreciate concern of individuals & groups not related to BMC offering help to citizens tweeting to us, but citizens must know that even they will reach out to us to ask for beds. Please follow protocols in the interest of all. Bed allocation system was decentralised since a single helpline, with innumerable calls, could not have taken the…

Oxygen crisis: Delhi hospitals reach breaking point The national capital is struggling to cope with a rapidly increasing caseload and demand for oxygen even as oxygen shortage reaches critical levels. The city's top hospitals like Apollo, Max, Fortis, Ganga Ram etc. have all been issuing open appeals for ensuring continued supply of oxygen and help them save human lives.  In the meantime, 25 critical patients in Sir Ganga Ram hospital died due to lack of oxygen supply on April 23rd. The hospital has more than 700 patients admitted for COVID-19 treatment.  The Delhi government has planned to take a number…

Only 25% of beds vacant in the city On April 22nd, the city recorded the highest spike of 3,789 fresh COVID cases, 2572 discharges and 24 deaths. As on April 20th, only around 25% of COVID beds are vacant in tertiary hospitals in Chennai. Of the 4368 available beds in the five institutions (Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Stanley, Kilpauk Medical College & Hospital, Omandurar and Kings), 3239 beds are occupied and 1129 beds are vacant. The city is already feeling the stress of rising cases as most private hospitals are also at capacity based on the data from the government…

Lack of oxygen supply hits Mumbai Waiting periods for hospital beds, especially ICU, ventilator, and oxygen beds, have considerably lengthened in the city. According to BMC data, only 661 oxygen beds were vacant and they were vacated due to supply shortages. In order to meet high demands, the first ‘Oxygen Express’ has left for Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and will transport liquid medical oxygen for Maharashtra’s usage. Volunteer groups have also attempted to aid the cylinder crunch in Mumbai. Several mosques in Mumbra, Mira Road, Kalyan, and Bhiwandi are providing oxygen cylinders to the city’s hospitals. Source: Times of India, Hindustan…

Restrictions on movement until May 4 As the night curfew was intensified in Bengaluru, the police have shut down major roads, flyovers and main traffic circles. Only essential supply vehicles are permitted until May 4. The prohibitory orders under Section 144 (1) of CrPC bans the gathering of more than four people in public places, except bus terminals, metro and railway stations, and airports. The government has also imposed a weekend lockdown until May 4. Until May 4, only state/central government employees involved in essential COVID services can move unrestricted. Those who are part of industries and organisations requiring 24X7…

With Chennai witnessing the second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has roped in 10 FOCUS (Friends of Covid Persons Under Surveillance) volunteers have been deployed in each division. Their responsibilities include monitoring patients under home isolation, helping them with daily needs, distributing kabasura kudineer and clarify queries regarding vaccines. Along with the volunteers, each division-level team monitoring the pandemic in Chennai includes sanitary inspectors, assessors, conservancy inspectors and police sub-inspectors.  The corporation has formed several zonal-level coordination teams headed by the Zonal Officers for COVID containment and safety measures. Executive engineers, health officers, assistant revenue…