Health

Translated by Sandhya Raju கோவிட் வைரஸ் தொற்று குறித்து மத்திய அரசு பல முன்னெச்செரிக்கை நடவடிக்கைகளை அறிவித்துள்ளது. எனினும் தொற்று பராவமல் தடுக்க அடுக்குமாடி குடியிருப்புகள் கட்டாயமாக சில நடவடிக்கைகளை மேற்கொள்ள வேண்டும். இது குறித்த சில பொது கேள்விகளும் பதில்களும்: பாதுகாவலர்களும், வேலையாட்களும் கடைபிடிக்கவேண்டியவை? குடியிருப்பு பகுதிகளுக்கு வரும் வெளியாட்களை இவர்கள் அதிகம் சந்திக்க நேரிடுவதால், இவர்களுக்கு முக கவசம், சோப், போதிய தண்ணீர் வசதி, கிருமி நாசினி ஆகியவற்றை வழங்க வேண்டும். லிஃப்ட் பட்டன்களை கிருமி நாசினியால் துடைப்பது கடினம் என்பதால் ஒரே ஒரு பாதுகாவலர் மட்டுமே இதை இயக்க வேண்டும். அவர் இல்லாத சமயத்தில், மக்கள் படிகளில் செல்வது நல்லது என சுகாதாரத் துறை அதிகாரிகள் அறிவுறுத்துகிறார்கள். வெளியாட்களிடம் சுவாச சுகாதாரம் (இருமும் போதும், தும்மும் போதும் வாயையும் மூக்கையும் சட்டையாலும், கைக்குட்டையாலும் மூட அறிவுறுத்துதல்),  சோப்பால் கை கழுவுதல் குறித்து விழிப்புணர்வை இவர்கள் ஏற்படுத்தலாம். விழிப்புணர்வு…

Michael Ryan, Executive Director of the World Health Organisation recently said that India has tremendous capacity in eradicating the coronavirus pandemic. He cited the country’s success in handling polio and smallpox, both through targeted public intervention. Of these, the smallpox story is directly connected to the history of Chennai, for it was here that the first decisive public intervention was done. And the man behind it was Dr Ayyagari Ramachandra Rao, the institution being the Communicable Diseases Hospital (CDH), Tondiarpet. I have written before about him, but a repeat is still worthwhile. Summer may pack in a whole host of…

India is in the midst of a 21-day lockdown that started today. In his televised address to the nation, Modi exhorted the nation to cooperate with the 21-day lockdown, violation of which could “set us back by 21 years,” in the Prime Minister's words. He warned of the dire consequences faced by other nations as a result of ignoring mandates of social distancing and urged the country to stay indoors to avoid a similar fate. However, the last time that the PM asked all Indians to stay at home, on March 22nd for a day, the results had been mixed.…

Today, the BBMP Commissioner issued an order that applies to all apartments/gated communities/layouts in Bengaluru, so as to ensure social distancing and quarantining of citizens. The order directs BBMP officers to ensure that the following preventive measures are undertaken strictly. Spraying and fumigating apartment complexes, gated communities and layouts. Ensure there are hand sanitisers/soap solution at the entry and exit, and ensure that every person entering or exiting uses them to wash their hands. Ensure that the health of every person who enters/exits, is checked using a thermal sensor. If any one is found with a cough, cold or fever,…

BBMP has set up a 'war room' to stop the spread of coronavirus and create awareness. The war room is situated in the six floor of the Palike's annexe building. Following are the priorities of the war room, as per a press release from BBMP: Keeping vigil on those infected and ensuring that it does not spread. Collecting information on all arriving from abroad and keeping track of them. Calling every day and keeping track of those who are on home quarantine for 15 days. War room staff to work 24/7 in three shifts. Using the format provided by WHO,…

Finding that measures taken to control the spread of coronavirus in Bengaluru had hit the informal workforce the hardest, a group of workers’ unions has recommended a slew of urgent measures to be taken by the state government, beginning with a Rs 21,000 crore plan to provide relief to such workers. The recommendation follows a survey they undertook among garment workers, street vendors, pourakarmikas, hospital workers, construction workers and gig economy workers. The report recommends universal delivery of rations, serving cooked food on a daily basis, releasing Rs 14,000 for each household, prohibiting termination/retrenchment of employment, holding health camps and…

In a bid to test more people who may have possibly come in contact with COVID-19 patients, latest testing strategy laid out by the Indian Council of Medical Research is as follows:  1. All asymptomatic individuals who have undertaken international travel in the last 14 days:  - They should stay in home quarantine for 14 days.  - They should be tested only if they become symptomatic (fever, cough, difficulty in breathing)  - All family members living with a confirmed case should be home quarantined All symptomatic contacts of laboratory confirmed cases. 2. All symptomatic contacts of laboratory confirmed cases 3.…

Bengaluru is home to many educational institutions, which means it is also home to a large student population and a young professional crowd. In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, BBMP has issued the following advisory for paying guest accommodations and hostels: Students residing in Paying Guest (PG) houses or hostels may be advised to return to their own homes, in case their educational institutions have declared holidays in view of COV1D-19. In case occupants opt to stay back in the Hostel /PG House, they should be made aware of personal hygiene measures as per the advice of the Government…

With Bengaluru in lockdown, even procuring food from your neighbourhood supermarket may seem like a difficult task. There's a threat that coronavirus can spread rapidly when people come in close contact in public places. To address the safety of staff as well as customers in markets and shopping centres, BBMP has issued the following advisory: Time-bound sales promotion offers, that have the potential to draw large crowds within a limited time frame, are strictly prohibited. It is advised to introduce 'time-bound token system' for shopping. Reduce overcrowding inside the shopping outlet. It needs to be appreciated that despite the lockdown,…

The death toll in India from coronavirus infection stands at five, as of now. The severity of the virus prompted state governments across the country to order closure of educational institutions and encourage parents to work from home, apart from home quarantine for those who returned from abroad or had come in contact with infected persons. But as families spend more time together at home, especially those under quarantine, parents are having a tough time keeping children engaged. And more importantly, safe. Questions with regard to the safety of children are many: Are they more vulnerable to the infection? What…