Civic

Corporation's new strategy for COVID patients To curb the spread of COVID, the civic body has begun distributing basic medical kits for people undergoing RT-PCR tests. In the new approach that the corporation has taken, the test results would be communicated through the civic body medical teams who will make home visits to determine the course of treatment. The demand for oxygen beds has gone up in recent times in the city due to which the civic body has taken a decision to install oxygen concentrators at Covid Care Centres (CCC) to treat patients with mild symptoms. The number of…

Maharashtra extends lockdown The Maharashtra government has extended the lockdown in the state till 7 am of June 1. New curbs will be imposed on weddings and only 25 people will now be allowed to attend. Only in certain cases, like a funeral or medical emergencies, will people be allowed to travel between different cities or districts in the state. Under these orders, government offices except emergency services related to the pandemic, will open with only 15 percent attendance. Source: DNA India Read more: More people fall prey to online scams during the lockdown Mumbai sounds the alarm on COVID-19…

Cases cross one million On Thursday, the city crossed the one million mark in cumulative COVID-19 infections. About 25% of the cases were reported in the past 13 days alone, while 30% of the total deaths in Bengaluru were between May 1 and 13. The daily positivity rate stands at 27.6 %. Since the beginning of May, there were 2,153 deaths, compared to 1,907 in April. There are 300-plus deaths every day. However, as per projections, the number of cases will gradually decline by the end of May. Bengaluru Urban’s testing numbers too have declined since April 20. Official data…

“They were numbers first. Numbers then changed to names. And names changed to people we loved”. The second wave of COVID-19 has hit us hard as many of us have lost loved ones as we struggle to contain the effects of the virus. It is also the worst kind of déjà vu from last year. While some of us will be able to stay home, a vast majority around us are struggling with little or no access to healthcare, shelter and food. Many have lost jobs.  Read more: BBMP budget: Is 336 cr enough to manage Covid, fix a broken…

SC sets up task force to streamline oxygen allocation The Supreme Court has set up a 12-member National Task Force, comprised of health experts from around the country, to provide guidance and leadership for an overhaul of the oxygen allocation system and supply of essential drugs and equipment. The committee is expected to “to facilitate a public health response to the pandemic based on scientific and specialised domain knowledge.” Earlier, the Supreme Court stayed the contempt notice by Delhi HC to the central government on the issue of supply of oxygen. The apex court made it clear that such action will not…

Stalin sworn in as new CM of TN On May 7th, DMK chief M K Stalin took charge as the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. The oath was administered by Governor Banwarilal Purohit at Raj Bhavan. Along with Stalin, 33 MLAs assumed as cabinet ministers of Tamil Nadu.  Soon after taking oath, he signed the following five orders:  Authorisation of COVID relief of Rs 4,000 each to rice-card holders (the first tranche of Rs 2000 to be released this month)Bearing of costs incurred at private hospitals for COVID treatment by those insured under the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance…

Tetrapods relocated to Band Stand Coastal road construction at Haji Ali has led to the relocation of the iconic seafront tetrapods to Bandra’s Band Stand. But locals are not happy. Officials have claimed that the tetrapods would prevent erosion at Band Stand. However, architect Samarth Das says that the natural bedrock of Band Stand is already a barrier against erosion. Residents in the area say that BMC has dangerously dumped the rocks instead of laying them out in any planned way. Source: Times of India, Free Press Journal Read more: The case against Mumbai's Coastal Road project BMC stops walk-in…

BJP leaders target Muslims in COVID war room Police searched eight zonal COVID war rooms following allegations of a scam in the allotment of hospital beds for COVID-19 patients. Bengaluru South member of Parliament, Tejasvi Surya of the BJP, alleged that hospitals blocked beds in fake names to make money. He said that officials of the BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) 'colluded' with private nursing homes and hospitals. The police are also investigating the hospitals that have been charged. However, emergency response in Bengaluru was hit following this. On Wednesday, a "raid" had been conducted by Surya and three MLAs…

The issue of whether domestic help (house helpers, cooks, drivers etc.) be allowed to continue working in flats during the lockdown has become quite a contentious subject over the last few days. Many apartment residents are complaining that it is putting them to a lot of inconvenience. Some people have even approached the police to take action against managing committees of apartment associations that have restricted entry to domestic help. In this backdrop, my views on this contentious issue are as follows: Every passing day, I am seeing more people dying around me, including in apartment complexes. The inconvenience of…

Supreme Court prohibits action against people appealing on social media for help The Supreme Court made it clear on April 30, 2021 that no state can register FIR or take any other action against people posting appeals for help on social media. The court further said that it was important to hear the voices of our citizens in distress and not clampdown on them. The apex court warned that it would see it as a contempt of court if any state engages in any such activity. Ever since the surge of COVID cases in the country, online forums have been…