City: Chennai

Translated by Sandhya Raju கடந்த ஒரு மாதமாக சென்னையில் கோவிட் தொற்று அதிகரித்து வருகிறது. கடந்த ஏப்ரல் 20-ம் தேதி நிலவரப்படி, 3711 புதிய தொற்றுகளும், 17 உயிரழப்புகளும் நேர்ந்துள்ளன. 28005 பேர் சிகிச்சை பெற்றும் 1967 குணமடைந்தும் உள்ளனர். பெருந்தொற்று பரவத் தொடங்கி ஒரு வருடம் மேல் ஆகிவிட்டது, புதிய தொற்றில் 70% மாகாராஷ்டிரா மற்றும் பஞ்சாப் மாநிலங்களின் உள்ளது, இது புதிய தொற்று அலை உருவாகி உள்ளதை காட்டுகிறது. இந்த சூழலில், தமிழகத்திலும் தொற்று வேகமாக பரவி வருவதால், தமிழக சுகாதாரம் மற்றும் குடும்ப நலத் துறை, புதிய கட்டுப்பாடு விதிகளை அறிவித்துள்ளது. சென்னைக்கு பயணிக்கும் முன் நீங்கள் அறிந்து கொள்ள வேண்டியவை: யார் ஈ-பாஸ் பெற வேண்டும்? பிற நாடுகளிலிருந்தும், வெளிமாநிலங்களிலிருந்தும் சென்னைக்கு வருபவர்கள் கட்டாயம் ஈ-பாஸ் பெற வேண்டும். ஆனால், கர்நாடாகா, ஆந்திரா மற்றும் புதுச்சேரியிலிருந்து வருபவர்களுக்கு விதிவிலக்கு அளிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. தமிழகத்தினுள் பயணிக்க ஈ-பாஸ்…

The very approach of summer sends a few shivers down Chennai's spine now. The memory of 2019 is still fresh and enough to bring on a few nightmares. Two deficit monsoons following the 2015 December deluge led to reservoirs going bone-dry, and the city literally running out of water. After Cape Town, Chennai had become the next face of a water-starved dystopia in national and global headlines. While various solutions have been attempted since then to prevent recurrence of a similar situation in the city, Murali Anand Apartments in Mandaveli has a simple, traditional solution to suggest which saw them…

Chennai has seen a huge spike in COVID-19 cases in the past month, with the city breaching the daily 3000-case mark and registering a record number of positive cases on April 18th. While vaccination for those over 45 years of age is underway, given that the numbers are spiralling out of control, various restrictive measures have had to be reintroduced in the city to help curb the spread of the disease. Vaccination One of the key elements of fighting COVID-19 is mass vaccination. Vaccination for healthcare and frontline workers was opened up in January. Those aged 60 and above could…

Summers are getting hotter in Chennai. The mean average temperature in the city has increased 1.3°C in the time period between 1951 and 2010, according to a study conducted by Anna University in 2012. The number of hot days in a year have been spiking too, according to various reports from the Regional Meteorological Centre.  Studies apart, Chennaiites also feel the heat. Most admit to using long hours of air-conditioning to battle the scorching summer days. “At the risk of high electricity bills, I have installed an air conditioner in the living room this year. The heat is getting unbearable,”…

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…

The recent TN Assembly Elections saw the lowest voter turnout in the state in the past three elections. Chennai’s overall voter turnout stood at 59.06%, with only four constituencies registering turnout higher than 60%.What could explain the low turnout is that many eligible voters chose to sit it out on polling day and also that the inaccuracies in the voter rolls contributed to the issue. There have been instances of unexplained deletion of names of voters who found themselves unable to exercise their franchise in the assembly elections. Names of entire families who voted as recently as the Lok Sabha…

Chennai breached the 2000-case mark on April 11th, with the city registering 2124 cases. The second wave of COVID-19 is spreading fast across the city. All residents have been advised to be vigilant and follow masking, social distancing and avoid unnecessary gatherings. A fresh set of restrictions have been imposed on use of public spaces in a move to curb further spread of infection.Here is the latest testing protocol, containment strategy, vaccination specifics and restrictions in the city that we must all be aware of: On testing and hospitalisation: Where can one get tested for COVID-19? COVID-19 testing can be…

Updated on December 6, 2021 In April 2021, in the backdrop of the alarming COVID scenario across the country, as well as rising numbers within the state, the Tamil Nadu Health and Family Welfare Department had introduced a number of rules to be followed for travel to Chennai and the state. Responding to various questions from our readers, we had compiled a list of the travel protocols in place then. This article replaces our older curation with details of the current travel protocol in place, as on December 6 2021. As 2021 progressed and the pandemic situation eased, the rules…

Penalty reintroduced for violation of COVID norms On April 8th, Chennai saw 1,520 new COVID cases and 515 recoveries. There were six deaths. Currently, 11,633 patients are under treatment.  In view of the rise in the number of cases, the Greater Chennai Corporation has reintroduced penalties for violation of COVID-19 safety norms. The civic body has set a target of Rs 10 lakh every day to be collected from those who violate rules of masking, social distancing and other protocol. Among the 15 zones, Royapuram and Teynampet have the highest target of Rs 1.5 lakh a day, followed by Kodambakkam…

On April 6th, a humid day, Zaitoon Begum, a 87-year-old resident of Kottivakkam went to the nearby polling station to cast her vote. Presently a Sholinganallur constituent, Zaitoon Begum has been voting for more than six decades now — she voted first at the then Madras Presidency.  Zaitoon Begum's polling experience was smooth — social distancing was maintained at the booth, masks and gloves were mandated for all voters. But she is still a little disappointed, having had to visit the polling booth at a time when COVID infections are rising across Chennai. “Given the circumstances, the ballot box should…