City: Chennai

As we approach the relaxation of lockdown, traffic and people on the roads is bound to increase, even as we continue to battle the pandemic. Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) can be very effective in helping the Greater Chennai Corporation, as the civic body continues its measures to create awareness and enforce social distancing in the near future. Here are some salient points for RWAs from a note issued by a senior GCC official. Awareness Awareness material will be handed over to RWAs by GCC.Do paste where it will be visible to the publicDo share the digital messages widely.Do NOT spread…

When Anita, aged 60 and her husband, 65, tested positive for COVID-19, it didn't feel like news to them. "We were returning from New Zealand on March 15th and a fellow passenger in our flight was sick. We expected to get it," says Anita candidly. Anita narrates her experience in dealing with COVID and shares some advice for fellow citizens: The start of the illness "We were not tested for COVID-19 in the beginning probably since we had returned from New Zealand, where number of the cases was still low back then. But we self quarantined ourselves at our home…

COVID-19 updates: Police dept prohibits gatherings, GCC focusses on slums; Tasmac to remain shut in city, and more... On May 15th, Tamil Nadu recorded 385 new COVID-positive patients, taking the total number of cases to 10108, according to Tamil Nadu Health Department’s bulletin. Of 385, 309 patients are from Chennai.  COVID-19 status in Chennai as of May 15. Pic: GCC/Twitter In a bid to contain the spread of the virus, A K Viswanathan, Chennai Police Commissioner, has promulgated Section 41 of the Tamil Nadu City Police Act that prohibits all gatherings, processions, fasts, demonstrations and human chains within Chennai limits…

The usually busy junctions on Mount Road and OMR wear a deserted look. Almost two months into the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the virus, most vehicles have been off the streets, with only emergency travel and essential services permitted in Chennai. The spread of coronavirus has altered, at least for the near future, how we commute and the kind of travel we consider essential. While the pandemic’s implications for health have prompted extraordinary precautions, the economic impact of these measures have been devastating for many, even in the short-term. One section of people adversely affected by this…

The normally bustling, outpatient unit of the Adyar Cancer Institute, is deafeningly quiet. And so it has been over the last two months, confirms Chairperson of the Institute, Chennai, Dr V Shanta, as she shares her concerns in the background of the devastating COVID pandemic. “Over the years, we have evolved standardized protocols integrating all the advances in oncologic science and technology into our treatment. But this never-before situation has raised multiple concerns," said Dr Shanta, "With the lockdown adding to the panic, many patients were unable to reach the cancer centre. Outpatients numbered about 400 before lockdown times and bed…

Translated by Sandhya Raju ஒரு மாதத்திற்கும் மேலாக வீட்டிலேயே இருக்கும் ஊரடங்கு சூழலை, வேகமாக பரவி வரும் கொரோனா தொற்று உருவாக்கியுள்ளது. அத்தியாவசிய சேவைகள் தவிர அனைத்து பிற சேவைகளும் இந்த ஊரடங்கு நேரத்தில் நிறுத்தி வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன. சம்பள குறைப்பு, ஆட்குறைப்பு போன்றவை பலரை பொருளாதார நெருக்கடியில் ஆழ்த்தியுள்ளது. மக்கள் சந்திக்கும் துயரங்களை கருத்தில் கொண்டு மத்திய மாநில அரசுகள், கடன் தொகை, சொத்து வரி, தண்ணீர் வரி மற்றும் மின் கட்டணங்கள் செலுத்துவதில் சில தளர்வுகளை அறிவித்தது. இதன் காரணமாகவும், செயல்பாட்டு தடைகள் காரணமாகவும், தமிழ்நாடு மின்சார வாரியம் (TNEB) கடந்த சுழற்சியின் மீட்டர் அளவிலான தொகையையே இந்த சுழற்சியிலும் கட்டணமாக செலுத்தலாம், என அறிவித்தது. இரண்டு மாதங்களுக்கு ஒரு முறை நீங்கள் செலுத்த வேண்டிய கட்டணம் எதிர்பார்த்ததை விட குறைவாக இருந்திருந்தால், அதற்கான காரணம் இது தான். கூடவே, நீங்கள் அறிந்து கொள்ள வேண்டிய தகவல்களும் உண்டு.…

A study conducted in 2016 by the Tamil Nadu State Labour Department estimated that around 1.94 lakhs migrant workers live and work in Chennai. Accounting for the neighbouring districts of Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur, the number goes up to around 5 lakhs, making up just over 50% of the migrant labour workforce in the state. A vast majority of them have been struggling as they look for options to survive in the city in the wake of the COVID crisis and the resulting lockdown. Some have managed to leave for their home towns, but for many others who are hoping to…

COVID-19: Lockdown rules relaxed, Hospitals run out of beds, Koyambedu market shifted to Thirumazhisai, Madras HC’s ruling on Tasmac In a recent update, the State government has relaxed the lockdown in Tamil Nadu (effective from Monday). According to the order, saloons, spas and beauty parlours will continue to remain closed. The following are the instructions given by the government for the localities falling under Greater Chennai Police limits and non-containment zones. ServicesGreater Chennai Police limits (operation timings)Non-containment zones and rest of TN (operation timings)Private establishments10.30 am to 6 pm (with 33% workforce)10 am and 7 pm Vegetable shops and grocery…

“A young girl who tested positive for COVID-19 at Shanthi Niketan Colony of Madambakkam passed away,” -- this is one of the messages that was circulated widely among residents in and around Tambaram in late April.  The street had been cordoned off and police personnel was deployed.  Citizens in the adjacent neighbourhoods stocked up on provisions and did not venture out, even to walk their dogs. Citizens in the cordoned locality had to live with not only the threat of the disease but also a kind of social stigma, with even shopkeepers requesting them not to visit their stores.  But when…

The city of Chennai that was Madras has been in an unprecedented state of lockdown since the third week of March. It is of course not alone in this, for the rest of the country, and indeed much of the world is pretty much in the same situation. With the numbers in the city spiking of late, the Government has toed the line when it comes to the Central Government’s directive that the lockdown be extended by two more weeks – to May 17th. This is to the good, at least as far as keeping a check on the spread…