COVID-19: Lockdown 6.0, 288 checkpoints to check vehicles, discharge summary not being given to patients

On June 19th, the state saw 2115 new persons test positive for COVID-19; Chennai accounts for 1322 of these new patients. An undersecretary at Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) and a police Inspector in Chennai succumbed to the disease this week. 

In a bid to bring down the severity of COVID-19 cases, Chennai and three neighbouring districts have been locked down for 12 days till 30th June. Meat stalls and slaughterhouses will remain closed within Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) limits. Amma canteens will provide free food in Chennai and suburbs throughout the 12 days. 

GCC Commissioner Prakash urged residents not to hide symptoms during the lockdown. The civic body has also distributed pulse oximeters to check the oxygen levels to detect asymptomatic cases with hypoxia (oxygen deprivation).

As many as 288 checkpoints have been set up by the Greater Chennai Police to scrutinise vehicles. An e-pass or a valid identity card is mandatory to travel around the city. However, lakhs of Chennaiites fled the city just before the lockdown due to the spike in COVID cases and economic compulsions.

The number of containment zones has come down to 64 from 1050 streets in Chennai. According to revised GCC guidelines, a street will be contained if it has a minimum of five COVID cases or 20 positive contacts.

Amidst several lapses in accountability, a few patients discharged from public hospitals alleged that they were not issued a discharge summary. Other patients, who received the summary, stated that they were given a handwritten slip without an official signature. Many patients complained of treatment details not being specified in the summary.

Source: The Indian Express | The Times of India | The New Indian Express

Skywalk project in T Nagar gets underway

Under the Smart City Mission, GCC is executing a skywalk project between Mambalam railway station and T Nagar bus terminus. As the lockdown has decongested the bustling neighbourhood, eight of the 42 piles have been constructed on the narrow road in a month’s span. The structure is planned to be 600 m long and 4 m wide.  

Source: The Hindu

Residents allege illegal silt extraction in Ambattur

Activists in Ambattur have alleged extraction of silt from three ponds, up to seven feet. While the rejuvenation process was kickstarted recently, residents state that this has been initiated without even clearing the encroachments. It may be noted that Rs 4 crore was sanctioned for the rejuvenation project, and residents state that the water bodies have been neglected for about 15 years.

Source: The New Indian Express

Piped water supply expanded in city

Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) has stated that 1.5 lakh residents living in Kottivakkam, Palavakkam, Mugalivakkam and Perumbakkam will receive 23.5 million litres of water through pipes from August. The flushing of water pipes currently underway will continue till next month. While Perungudi will receive 10.5 MLD, Mugalivakkam 5.2 MLD. The water will be sourced from the Nemmeli desalination plant, Veeranam lake and Chembarambakkam reservoir. 

Source: The Times of India

Compiled by Bhavani Prabhakar