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 Centre. An additional 320 ICU beds will be added to the existing 1,057 beds in the city.
Further, Government Royapettah Hospital, the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (IOG) and the Government Hospital for Women and Children in Egmore have upped the bed availability, by adding 250 more oxygen-supported beds at each institution.
As patients are going through a tough time identifying the availability of beds in private hospitals, the State Department of Public Health is working to provide real-time information on the availability of beds. In the first phase, the data will be updated once every two to three hours. Later, it will reflect every admission and discharge. The department is also working to include data on bed availability in government hospitals.
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Source: The New Indian Express | The Times of India | The Hindu
Read more: COVID second wave in Chennai: What to do if you test positive
CMDA considers Kilambakkam as site to shift Koyambedu vendors if need arises
The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) is considering the Kilambakkam mofussil bus terminus as an alternative spot if the need to shift shops from Koyambedu arises during the second wave of the pandemic. It may be noted that the Thirumazhisai terminus accommodated 200 wholesale shops from Koyambedu at around the same time last year as the market became a major COVID hotspot. As the construction of the third mofussil bus terminus is underway at present, the Kilambakkam facility was chosen.
The MTC section in the Kilambakkam terminus can accommodate at least 300 shops with size ranging from 200 sqft to 250 sqft each. About 500 vehicles can be parked in the parking lot.
CMDA member secretary Shunchonngam Jatak Chiru stated that the COVID scenario is under control at Koyambedu Market Complex and about 400 are being tested on a daily basis.
Source: The Times of India
Thiruvottiyur Metro likely to be ready by August
Due to the lockdown imposed last year and the impact of COVID, the construction of Thiruvottiyur Theradi Metro Station is likely to be completed only by August. It is to be noted that the station was expected to be ready for inauguration in June.
Initially named as Gowri Ashram station, it is one of the eight stations on the 9-km Washermenpet to Wimco Nagar Metro stretch which was inaugurated on February 14th.
According to Metro officials, the land acquisition procedure and change in alignment of the elevated corridor in the location affected the construction and contributed to the delay. The elevation enables the movement of the temple chariot present nearby.
Source: The Times of India
Corporation requests MTC to operate more buses
The civic body has requested the Metropolitan Transportation Corporation (MTC) to operate additional services in a bid to implement the move of banning standing passengers in buses to control the spread of COVID.
Corporation Commissioner G Prakash stated that around 45% of the city population rely on MTC buses to travel around the city.
After the recent move to transport only seated passengers, the MTC added 400 more buses to its existing 3,700-strong fleet. However, Prakash said that the current fleet is insufficient to implement the safety measures.
Source: DT Next
[Compiled by Bhavani Prabhakar]
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We still see people who have been vaccinated and others not wearing masks with no social distancing maintained. Cooperation is required to get through this second pandemic wave. This is seen at bus stands, sweet shops and fastfood joints.