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3 more test positive for COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu, one without travel history

March 23, 2020, 7:46 pm
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Coronavirus
The total number of infected people in Tamil Nadu as of Monday is 12.
Manasa Rao
Image for representation
Three more patients from Tamil Nadu tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, taking the total number of coronavirus-infected in the state to 12. The latest patients include a 25-year-old man from Chennai, a 48-year-old man from Tiruppur and a 54-year-old man from Madurai. The men from Chennai and Tiruppur had both returned from London, United Kingdom. The man from Madurai, the 12th patient in the state, has no travel history. Speaking to the media in a press conference on Monday, Health Minister C Vijayabaskar said, “The Madurai patient alone has comorbidities. He already has cardiac disease, uncontrolled diabetes and uncontrollable hypertension. The presence of comorbidities is a risk. He does not have a history of international travel or travel to other states. So the department is checking if he had been in contact with those who had travelled abroad or to other states. Once we find out who he was in touch with, we will openly state to the press how many people we have contact traced.” #coronaupdate: 3 new #COVID19 positive cases in TN. 25 Y M Purasaivakkam, London return at #RGGH. 48 Y M Tiruppur,London return at #ESI Hosp. 54 Y M,MDU - Annanagar at #Rajaji Hosp. All 3 in isolation & treatment. @MoHFW_INDIA @CMOTamilNadu #Vijayabaskar— Dr C Vijayabaskar (@Vijayabaskarofl) March 23, 2020 As of Monday, 11,519 were in home quarantine in the state, according to figures provided by the Health Minister. These included people who have returned from coronavirus-affected states and countries. 552 people have been tested for COVID-19, of which 503 returned negative and 12, including the one recovered patient who has since recovered, tested positive. 37 tests are currently under process, said the minister. Regarding reports of an Armed Reserve police constable being admitted to the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, the Health Minister said, “He was admitted to hospital in Virudhunagar with fever. He was recommended to be admitted to the Government Rajaji General Hospital in Madurai where he is admitted now. We have now asked for samples to be taken. We will know only after the test results come back.” Read: TN govt releases dates on which COVID-19 positive patients arrived in state ‘Home quarantine an order, not request’  Following reports of people violating home quarantine protocol, the minister clarified that home quarantine was not a request but an order from the government.  “The Chief Minister has passed orders today and accordingly, we are pasting stickers on the homes of those who have been home quarantined. It is the government’s order that those who have returned from affected countries be quarantined at home for their own welfare as well as that of others and to prevent community spread. They have to obey it,” said the Minister. We are pasting stickers on their homes with the help of the district administration, police department, health authorities and revenue department, the minister said. The top eight districts with high numbers of those in home quarantine are Chennai, Kanyakumari, Thanjavur, Coimbatore, Pudukkottai, Trichy, Sivagangai, Cuddalore, Thiruvarur, and Tirunelveli. Collectors in these districts have received special instructions to those in home quarantine adhere to protocol. Read: TN lockdown: TASMAC to shut, no food delivery, people asked to stay at home ‘PPE in stock’ The minister took umbrage to reports that pointed to a shortage of Personal Protection Equipment for healthcare providers. He said, “Doctors, nurses and paramedics are the ones who need to have masks in hospital." He also noted that orders have been placed for three-ply and two-ply masks."We have stock of two lakh N95 masks, we have also placed an order, it is in the pipeline,” the minister said. He added, “We already have 1,100 ventilators. We have received 560 ventilators now. We have ordered 500 more ventilators. An exclusive 300-bed hospital will be set up in B Block, Government Medical College Omandurar Government Estate in one or two days for coronavirus treatment. We have readied 100 beds in other hospitals including Stanley and Kilpauk.” He also said that the Chief Minister had reached out to private hospitals to free up 25 percent of their facilities. 
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IT and ITES companies in Tamil Nadu asked to work from home, exemptions allowed

March 23, 2020, 9:10 pm
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Coronavirus
The state government has not made it fully mandatory for IT firms to provide work from home to all its employees.
TNM Staff
Image for representation/PTI
Tamil Nadu’s Information Technology (IT) and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES) companies have been asked to work from home, but the government has also said that if not feasible, people can operate from office. According to a government order (GO) issued by the Department of Health and Family Welfare of Tamil Nadu on Monday after the Chief Minister announced prohibitory orders for the entire state, IT and ITES companies have been exempted from abiding by the restrictions that would be in place across the state. “IT, Financial Services Back Offices and ITES Companies. IT and ITES units will ensure employees work from home. Where it is not feasible to do so, units dealing with critical and essential services will continue to operate taking all protective measures,” reads the GO. Similarly, the GO also exempts the transport arrangements put in place by these companies to enable their employees to commute between office and their homes. The exemption also comes as many employees complain that their requests to work from home have been refused by their companies due to ‘efficiency’ concerns and data security issues. Since many ITES companies work to service their clients, the agreements between such companies and their clients will involve a strict ‘no work from home’ policy, due to which the companies would not be in a position to grant their employees the option. The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Edappadi K Palaniswami, announced that the state will be on a complete lockdown from 6 pm on Tuesday. He also stated that prohibitory orders under section 144 will be in place across the state to prevent crowding and gathering of people in public places. Following the announcement, prominent bus stands in Chennai and Coimbatore witnessed unprecedented rush and hundreds of youngsters started for their hometowns to be with their families. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu reported its first case of coronavirus without any travel history. A 54-year-old man from Madurai tested positive for the infection on Monday without any travel history. 
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Nine streets visited by Thai coronavirus positive tourists shut in TN’s Erode

March 23, 2020, 9:21 pm
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Coronavirus
Two Thai tourists were tested positive for coronavirus and are being isolated and treated in IRT Medical College Hospital, Perundurai.
TNM Staff
Image for representation
Nine streets in Erode have been shut down after a couple of tourists from Thailand who had visited the area tested positive for COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu. According to reports, Erode district administration has prohibited the public from using those streets and has warned of strict action against the shops which violate the Collector’s orders. The streets which have been closed for the public are - New Masjid Street, Kongalamman Koil Street, East Kongalamman Koil Street, Sultanpet, West Kongalamman Koil Street, Kandasamy Street, Kandasamy Lane, Ottukara Chinnaiah Street and Hasan Street. Erode Municipal Commissioner also told the Times of India that the nine streets will be fumigated and that no commercial establishments shall function in the nine streets until further orders. A group of seven tourists from Thailand had reached Erode on March 12 and they had spent time in three mosques in the city. Later, one of them caught fever and was admitted to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, where he later succumbed. His coronavirus tests had reportedly returned negative. Two other tourists from the same group were tested positive for COVID-19 recently and are being isolated and treated in IRT Medical college hospital, Perundurai, Erode district. A total of 136 people in Erode have been placed under home quarantine after the tourists tested positive and the district administration has also begun fixing identification stamps in front of the houses of those who have been quarantined. Tamil Nadu now has 12 cases of COVID-19, of which one patient was cured and discharged from the hospital. Of the 11 active cases, 10 patients had travelled to India from abroad and one patient has reported no travel history within India or abroad. As on Monday, the government of Tamil Nadu has placed 12,519 people under home quarantine and has sent 552 samples for testing. 
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Rs 1,000 for all family card holders and list of other relief measures announced by TN govt

March 23, 2020, 11:27 pm
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Coronavirus
Construction labourers, and auto drivers attached to the Drivers' Welfare Association will receive Rs 1,000 per family and 15 kilos of rice, 1 kilo pulses and 1 litre of cooking oil.
TNM Staff
Image for Representation/PTI
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswamy on Tuesday announced relief measures worth Rs 3,280 crore for the people of Tamil Nadu as economic relief during the coronavirus pandemic. The Chief Minister was addressing the Assembly on the last day of the current session that has been cut short amid the spread of novel coronavirus. The announcements are as follows: All family ration card holders to get Rs 1,000 as relief. They will also receive their share of rice, pulses, cooking oil, sugar without any charge. To avoid people crowding at the PDS centres, this will be provided using a token system.  Those who missed availing their provision for the month of March can do so along with April month’s stock.  Construction labourers, and auto drivers attached to the Drivers' Welfare Association will receive Rs 1.000 per family and 15 kilos of rice, 1 kilo pulse and 1 litre of cooking oil.  Construction labourers and other daily wage labourers from other districts currently stranded in any particular district of Tamil Nadu will be identified by District Collectors and Labourers Unions, and will receive 15 kilos of rice, 1 kilo pulse and 1 litre of cooking oil free of charge.  Amma canteens will continue to run and provide hot, hygienic food.  Homeless and destitute people will receive  hot, hygienic food in the facilities that they are currently put up at. Centralised kitchens will be established for this purpose by the Chennai Corporation and also by other district Collectors.  Anganwadis will provide food directly to the elderly. Unregistered platform vendors will receive an additional Rs 1,000 as relief. Those employed under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme will receive additional wages for two days as special wages for the month of March.  As prohibitory orders under IPC section 144 will come into effect from 6 pm on March 24 in Tamil Nadu, the Chief Minister had already made announcements restricting vehicular movements across districts. Section 144 will be imposed until March 31 in the state. Essential services like groceries, milk etc will be available, the CM said. 
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Mayiladuthurai to become Tamil Nadu's 38th district

March 23, 2020, 11:36 pm
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Governance
The existing district of Nagapattinam will be bifurcated and Mayiladuthurai will become the headquarters of the new district.
TNM Staff
PTI
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswamy on Tuesday announced that Tamil Nadu’s newest, 38th district will be formed in Mayiladuthurai. The announcement was made on the last day of the current Assembly session, that has been cut short amid the spread of novel coronavirus. The existing district of Nagapattinam will be bifurcated and Mayiladuthurai will become the headquarters of the new district. Earlier this month, the Chief Minister, speaking at the foundation-stone laying ceremony of a new medical college in Orathur in Nagapattinam district, had announced that the government was considering the bifurcation of Nagapattinam into two districts. CM Palaniswami was referring to the long-standing demand of the people of Mayiladuthurai sub-division. In the same event, he also said that the hospitals at Mayiladuthurai and Sirkazhi would be upgraded with more facilities. New districts are usually formed for administrative convenience. Mayiladuthurai Municipality was established in 1865 and until independence, it was a part of Thanjavur district. When Nagapattinam district was formed in 1991 by bifurcating Thanjavur; Thiruvarur, Mayiladudurai and Mannargudi initially fell under Nagapattinam. Later, in 1997, Nagapattinam district was further bifurcated into Nagapattinam and Thiruvarur. Mayiladuthurai, located at a distance of 281 kilometres from Chennai, is home to several temples dating back to the medieval Chola era. Its main water source comes from the Kollidam River. There are currently 37 districts in Tamil Nadu, of which five new districts were formed only last year. Villupuram was split to form Kallakuruchi and this was the first new district to be formed in January 2019. In July 2019 came Chengalpattu and Tenkasi districts, sliced from Kanchipuram and Tirunelveli districts respectively. The trifurcation of Vellore rounded off the new districts spree by the government. Tirupathur and Ranipet were formed in August 2019. 
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TN confirms 3 more coronavirus positive cases, state tally now 15

March 24, 2020, 1:54 am
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Coronavirus
All three patients who were confirmed to have contracted the virus on Tuesday had reached Chennai from abroad recently.
TNM Staff
Image for representation
Three more persons in Tamil Nadu have tested positive for coronavirus, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 15. Of the 15, one patient has already been treated and discharged from the hospital. According to a tweet by Tamil Nadu Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr C Vijayabaskar, all the three new patients had reached Chennai recently from abroad. While two patients – a 74-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman – had returned from the USA, the third patient, a 25-year-old woman had landed in Chennai from Switzerland. All three are being isolated and treated in government medical college hospitals in Chennai.  #coronaupdate:Chennai reports 3 new cases for #COVID19. All 3 travelled abroad.74 Y M return from USA at #Stanley,52 Y F return from USA at #Stanley,25 Y F return from Swiss at #KMC,.They are residents of Porur, Purasaivakkam, Keelkattalai rsptvly.Pts in isolation & stable. #CVB— Dr C Vijayabaskar (@Vijayabaskarofl) March 24, 2020 On Monday, too, the government of Tamil Nadu had confirmed three new cases in the state of whom one patient, who is currently under treatment in Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, did not have any travel history, according to the Health Minister. Speaking to reporters on Monday, the minister said that the department is investigating if he was in contact with anyone who had travelled abroad or to other states. “Once we find out who he was in touch with, we will openly state to the press how many people we have contact traced,” he said. Meanwhile, Vijayabaskar told the Assembly on Tuesday that the coronavirus infection is spreading rapidly in Tamil Nadu and hence people need to cooperate with the government in its efforts in containing the spread of the virus. As of Monday, over 12,000 people have been placed under quarantine by the state government and 552 samples from Tamil Nadu have been sent for testing. In order to prevent the spread of the virus, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister announced a complete lockdown of the state and prohibitory orders under section 144 in Tamil Nadu from 6 pm on Tuesday. 
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Rajini, Suriya, Vijay Sethupathi, others give to fund for daily wage entertainment workers

March 24, 2020, 2:22 am
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Coronavirus
While Rajini gave Rs 50 lakh, the Suriya family and Vijay Sethupathi have given Rs 10 lakh each.
TNM Staff
The current shutdown has left many daily wage workers who make the backbone of the film industries in the lurch. In a notice issued by Film Employees’ Federation of South India (FEFSI), President RK Selvamani on March 23, he had estimated Rs 2 crore to feed the families of 15,000 employees who are dependent on the functioning of the Tamil film industry for their sustenance. FEFSI encompasses a total of 23 unions belonging to different trades in the film and television industries. On Tuesday, actor Rajinikanth announced that he will be donating Rs 50 lakh to the relief fund. #Thalaivar #Superstar #Rajinikanth donated 50 Lakhs to #FEFSI for the film industry workers / members who are not having any work due to the ongoing #Corona lockdown and with shoots being cancelled . #MakkalThalaivar #RMM #RajiniMakkalMandram @rajinikanth @RIAZtheboss pic.twitter.com/IlXUuG47F7 — V4UMEDIA (@V4umedia_) March 24, 2020 Actors Sivakumar, Suriya and Karthi have already announced a total of Rs 10 lakh for the fund. Others who have contributed Rs 10 lakh each include actors Vijay Sethupathi and Sivakarthikeyan. #MakkalSelvan #VijaySethupathi has donated 10 Lakhs to #FEFSI for the welfare and survival of its members and daily wage earners who are left without any work now due to the #Corona #COVID19 shutdown.@VijaySethuOffl pic.twitter.com/USGhFl2vXc — Priya - PRO (@PRO_Priya) March 24, 2020 Hatsoff @Siva_Kartikeyan #Sivakarthikeyan brother He has donated ₹10 Lakhs for the welfare and survival of #FEFSI members and daily wage earners, who are out of work now due to the #Corona #COVID19 shutdown. — Kaushik LM (#StayHomeStaySafe) (@LMKMovieManiac) March 23, 2020 Actor Prakash Raj announced that he will be donating 150 bags of rice, each weighing 25 kilos. நடிகர் #பிரகாஷ்ராஜ் - கொரோனாவால் வேலையில்லாமல் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட சினிமா பெப்சி தொழிளாளர்களுக்கு, 150 அரிசி மூட்டை (25kg) வழங்கினார். Actor @prakashraj gave 150 Rice bags (25kg) for #FEFSI Workers who are facing shutdown due to Corona Virus our break. #corona #Coronaindia #fefsi pic.twitter.com/1U7YfxCU6E — Johnson PRO (@johnsoncinepro) March 24, 2020 It was reported earlier that actor-director R Parthiepan has provided 250 rice bags. Actor-director Manobala has also donated rice bags to FEFSI workers. “Of the 25,000 members attached to the Federation, there are about 15,000 who depend on it for their sustenance. In order to provide them with rice, if we were to estimate Rs 1250 per family, for a total of 10,000 members it would amount up to Rs 2 crore. We request all the kind-hearted to come forward to help all those who worked with you,” reads the circular issued by FEFSI. Last week, the film body had announced the suspension of all shootings from March 19 until further notice. “Even though the producers and team members will be affected because of this decision financially, their lives is of high importance and so we’ve had to take this difficult decision (sic),” they had said in a circular.
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Koyambedu traders concerned about coronavirus, request screening before entry

March 24, 2020, 5:18 am
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Coronavirus
Over 30,000 people come to this Chennai market which sells fruits, vegetables, and flowers every day.
Priyanka Thirumurthy
The Koyambedu wholesale market in the heart of Chennai is amongst Asia's largest perishable goods complexes, and sees a crowd of over 30,000 people within its perimetre everyday. It is common for people from Chennai, Thiruvallur and Kanchipuram district to rub shoulders as they move from one stall to another buying vegetables, fruits, and flowers in bulk. And while sellers welcome these large crowds, the threat of the coronavirus has left them worried about even opening stalls in the last few days."We understand that what we do is an essential service and that we must continue to function as normal. We are not denying that," says Anu Joy of the Chennai Grape Association. "However, just seeing the crowds coming here every day without any screening process scares us. People are walking very close to each other, there is no social distancing, and we have no idea who could possibly be carrying symptoms of the virus," he adds. Another vendor, who did not want to be named, pointed out that there were at least 3,000 migrant workers who work and stay within the complex every day, who are at risk of contracting the infection. "Considering the sheer number of people who come and the proximity within which they function, it is clear that there is a possibility of the virus spreading even if one person gets it," says the vendor, "We want the government to intervene and ensure that both customers and sellers are protected." To this end, members of all associations (fruit, vegetable, and flower) met the District Revenue Officer (DRO) on Monday and sought immediate measures to mitigate a crisis. "The DRO himself said that hawkers who have encroached the market will be removed," says Anu, "But in addition to this, we ask that of the five existing gates, four be closed and the people coming into the market all be screened for symptoms. If someone is displaying any symptoms related to COVID-19, they can be stopped outside the market to prevent any further spread of the virus." In addition to this, other vendors who spoke to TNM say that the number of daily wage workers in the market must be brought down to only what is necessary. So far, the Chennai corporation has sprayed disinfectant in the premises of the complex and is also spraying disinfectant on vehicles that come into the market. TNM has reached out to Chennai Corporation Commissioner G Prakash for comment on what steps can be taken to protect the market. The article will be updated with his response.  
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Remembering Visu, the king of the middle-class family drama

March 24, 2020, 5:35 am
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Kollywood
Visu's positioning in the world of cinema was simple. That of a writer of emotional subjects around middle-class families and their value systems.
Anand Kumar RS
Well-known playwright, writer, actor, director and talk show host Visu passed away on March 22. Incidentally, it was a day in which the whole of India stayed largely at home, spending time with their families because of the Janata Curfew. If this had happened when Visu was in his prime, he might have said this through his character – “Intha coronavirus naala veetula ukkarnthu velai seiyarathukku naan vekka padala, vedana padala, oru vidhathula sandosha padaren. Yenna, antha saakula, ellarum kudumbathoda sernthu irukkom!” (I’m not ashamed or pained to sit at home and work because of this coronavirus. Because, with this excuse, we’re all together with our family!) Of course he would have written it much better than this, but you get the drift. “Kudumbam” or family was at the centre of all his imagination. His plays and subsequently films mostly revolved around day to day issues that crop up in a family. That too a middle-class family. In marketing, we call it “brand positioning” – this is nothing but how a consumer perceives a brand in their mind. As far as Visu was concerned, his positioning in the world of cinema was simple. That of a writer of emotional subjects around middle-class families and their value systems. With this positioning, he owned a niche which was difficult for anybody else to occupy. Years later, he would also use the same positioning to become a very successful talk show anchor. Before Visu, the middle-class space in Tamil cinema was occupied by none other than his guru – K Balachandar.  But KB, as he was fondly known, gradually expanded his scope and scaled many new frontiers.  By then, Visu who was looking at opportunities to graduate from the stage to films, moved in quickly and entrenched himself in that vacant slot. After associating with KB in a few films as an assistant director and as a writer, Visu found his sweet spot in Kudumbam Oru Kadambam which he wrote and acted for the first time. Before this, Visu made a mark for himself quietly in Tamil films as a writer. Thillu Mullu - KB’s super hit comedy film featuring Rajinikanth in dual roles, till today remains a milestone in Rajinikanth’s career for his comic role. KB’s casting coup apart, the other highlight of the film is the writing which was Visu’s.  There must be very few belonging to the ‘80s generation who do not know the lines in that interview scene featuring Thengai Srinivasan from Thillu Mullu! Visu’s initial films were mostly big screen versions of his own plays. And the look and feel were still akin to a play with simple sets and many characters.  By his own admission, Visu said that though he was a known director after his initial few films like Kanmani Poonga and Manal Kayiru, it was only after his super-duper hit film Samsaram Athu Minsaram that he became a household name. With this film, he not only endeared himself to the audience but to the producers as well as a filmmaker who knew his craft and boundaries. Visu was a producer’s delight. His movies did not demand expensive set properties, hordes of junior artists, action sequences or even elaborate song sequences. He didn’t go after star actors either. Visu just focussed on the storyline, his writing and in getting his casting right with key character artists like S Ve Shekhar and Manorama who were regulars in his films. His films therefore were made on a shoestring budget and on tight timelines. It would be eye-popping today to know that a mighty hit like Samsaram Athu Minsaram was made on a total budget of Rs 16-17 lakhs. Even by the standards of the ‘80s, it was a very small budget but one that brought in huge returns to the entire value chain, from the producer to the distributors and to the exhibitors. That the film also won the National Award for the Best Popular Film in that year was a crowning glory for Visu after the box-office success. Visu was the undisputed king of joint family subjects in Tamil cinema in the ‘80s and ‘90s. His writing typically involved a big family with a patriarch - which he played usually - and the conflicts around the many family members.  The audience felt that he was mirroring many scenes from their own lives but in an exaggerated style with long dialogues and emotional drama. The skill of any writer depends on not just putting the knots together in the script but in how he/she deftly unties the knots in the end. Visu was a master in this game. And on many occasions, he mentioned that his upbringing in a joint family setup with many family members in Madras helped him conceive one line stories which were then developed into screenplays for many of his hit films. To Visu, writing came naturally and easily. Wordplay was his forte. And thanks to his drama background, his films were dialogue- heavy. In plays, he said that he necessarily had to get the attention of even the last row in a hall and that this was possible only with stirring dialogues. Visu didn’t feel the need to change this style even in a powerful visual medium like cinema.  Who knows, probably this inflexibility curtailed his career as a director. Till Visu himself revealed this a while ago, very few knew that he was KB’s first choice to direct Rajinikanth’s super hit film – Annamalai!  But Visu didn’t do it eventually as he wanted to write the film in his style and put his stamp on the film which did not work out for the stakeholders. At some point, Visu’s films did seem repetitive and not so realistic. But that didn’t seem to bother him so much. He felt that he must stick to his strengths which were his writing and middle-class genre. Ironically, when he tried to step out of his style and made a thriller film like Vaa Magale Vaa in 1994, it did not do well.  After a string of failures, he did very few films as a writer and director but continued acting in character roles till his health started failing him. Visu’s migration from stage to films to then the small screen as a talk show anchor was seamless. And the main reason for that was his skill as a writer and a stage actor. So irrespective of the canvas, he was able to don the hat appropriately. But among all the hats he donned, to me, Visu the writer will remain forever.  For, he seldom directed his films but always “wrote” them. Anand Kumar RS is a management professional by week and an avid blogger by weekend. He writes on politics, business, and films. 
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8 including 3 kids trapped in forest fire in TN’s Theni, rescue ops on

March 24, 2020, 6:56 am
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Forest Fire
A team of around 100 personnel has been pressed into service to rescue those who have been trapped.
Megha Kaveri
Image for representation
 Eight persons including three children are trapped in a forest fire in the Western Ghats region in Theni district on Tuesday. Rescue operations are underway. According to an officer from the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services, the people in the group are believed to be natives of Rasingapuram in Bodinayakkanur taluk in Theni district. “I think they work in the estates in Kerala, on the other side of the hills. Since there are no bus services, they might have chosen to walk through the hills to reach their homes,” he told TNM. The department officials got an alert call from relatives of those who were trapped in the fire around 2.30 pm on Tuesday. The group was reportedly returning from Pooppaara in Kerala to their village in the foothills of Western Ghats in Rasingapuram. The district administration has engaged around 100 personnel to coordinate the rescue operations in the region. “Our first team of personnel started trekking by 3 pm and they are yet to reach the spot. We still have two more hours to walk to reach the spot where they are believed to be trapped. We are not able to contact them either,” the officer added. Fire engines from Theni, Bodinayakkanur and Uthamapalayam have been rushed to the spot and personnel from the commando team, police department, forest department etc are on their way to the spot. Forest fire in this region of Western Ghats is common in Summer. In 2018, 23 people were killed in a forest fire in Kurangani hills in Theni district. (This is a developing story)
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3 more test positive for coronavirus in TN: Total number of COVID-19 cases rises to 18

March 24, 2020, 10:37 am
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Coronavirus
Two of the three patients had returned from New Zealand and London.
TNM Staff
Tamil Nadu reported three more positive cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday, taking the total number of infected in the state (including the person who has since recovered) to 18.  According to Tamil Nadu Health Minister C Vijayabaskar, the latest patients include a 65-year-old man who returned from New Zealand who is currently admitted at a private hospital, a 55-year-old woman from Saidapet who is currently at Kilpauk Medical College and a 25-year-old who returned from London, United Kingdom who is at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. #coronaupdate: 3 new cases for #covid19 in Chennai. 65Y M return from New Zealand at Pvt.Hosp, 55Y F Saidapet at #KMC. 25Y M return from London at #RGGH. Patients are in isolation & under treatment.@MoHFW_INDIA @CMOTamilNadu #Vijayabaskar— Dr C Vijayabaskar (@Vijayabaskarofl) March 24, 2020 However, there has been no mention in the Minister’s tweet about whether the 55-year-old woman had a history of travel, unlike the other two. It was only on Monday that the Health Minister revealed, in response to a reporter’s question, that Patient No 12, a 54-year-old man from Madurai, had no history of travel to other states or countries. He had said that the Health and Family Welfare Department was in the process of ascertaining whether he had been in touch with any person who had travelled abroad.  According to the Minister, as of Tuesday, a total of 2,09,163 persons had been screened in the state. Of the 743 samples tested thus far, 608 had returned negative while 15 had tested positive. The results of 120 tests are under process, Minister Vijayabaskar said in a tweet.  15,928 people are 'under follow-up' by the state government.  Earlier in the day, three patients with travel histories had tested positive for the virus. A 74-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman who had travelled to the United State were admitted to the Stanley Medical College while a 25-year-old female who had returned from Switzerland was at Kilpauk Medical College hospital.
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Tamil Nadu records first COVID-19 death as 54-yr-old patient from Madurai succumbs

March 24, 2020, 8:09 pm
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Coronavirus
Just hours earlier on Tuesday, the Minister had updated that the patient was not responding well to treatment, given his medical conditions.
TNM Staff
Image for Representation/PTI
Tamil Nadu reported its first COVID-19 death on Wednesday. Patient 12, the 54-year-old man from Madurai, who had no history of travel to other states or countries, died early on Wednesday morning. He was reported to have been infected with coronavirus on March 23. Two days later, in the early hours of March 25, Tamil Nadu’s Health Minister C Vijayabaskar announced via a tweet that the patient has died. “Despite our best efforts, the #COVID-19 +ve Pt at MDU, #RajajiHospital, passed away few minutes back. He had medical history of prolonged illness with steroid-dependent COPD, uncontrolled Diabetes with Hypertension,” the Minister tweeted. #update: Despite our best efforts, the #COVID19 +ve Pt at MDU, #RajajiHospital, passed away few minutes back.He had medical history of prolonged illness with steroid dependent COPD, uncontrolled Diabetes with Hypertension.@MoHFW_INDIA @CMOTamilNadu #Vijayabaskar — Dr C Vijayabaskar (@Vijayabaskarofl) March 24, 2020 Patient 12 was isolated and was undergoing treatment at Madurai Rajaji Government General Hospital. Just hours earlier on Tuesday, the Minister had updated that the patient was not responding well to treatment, given his medical conditions. “He has a medical history of prolonged illness with steroid dependent COPD, uncontrolled Diabetes with Hypertension. Our team is striving hard to stabilise,” his tweet read. #Update:The #covid19 +ve Pt at MDU,Rajaji Hosp is not responding well to treatment since evening & is deteriorating now.He has a medical history of prolonged illness with steroid dependent COPD, uncontrolled Diabetes with Hypertension. Our team is striving hard to stabilise.#CVB— Dr C Vijayabaskar (@Vijayabaskarofl) March 24, 2020 This patient’s lack of travel history raised concerns and fears of community spread among people. The Minister, during his press meet, said that his team was working hard to find the source of infection. Later, on Tuesday, the Minister told reporters that this man had come in contact with the two Thailand nationals who had tested positive for COVID-19 and were undergoing treatment in isolation in Erode. As of Wednesday morning, the total number of COVID-19 infected patients in Tamil Nadu is 18, including the one who recovered. The latest patients include a 65-year-old man who returned from New Zealand and is currently admitted at a private hospital, a 55-year-old woman from Saidapet who is currently at Kilpauk Medical College, and a 25-year-old who returned from London and is at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital.
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Chennai lockdown brings crowds to Koyambedu bus terminus as many seek way to hometowns

March 24, 2020, 8:31 pm
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While one woman tagged along with friends in a car traveling to Coimbatore, a man rode to Madurai in an auto with a friend and his father.
Anjana Shekar
PTI
Just a few hours after the Tamil Nadu government announced that section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) would come into effect on Tuesday evening, several thousand from Chennai thronged the main bus terminus, the Central Moffusil Bus Terminus (CMBT), on Monday evening to somehow travel back home. The order resulted in a melee at the bus terminus with people hanging down from widows, scrambling their way up to the seats, chasing down buses and squeezing themselves onto the narrow walkway inside the bus in a desperate bid to reach home, all of them consumed with a singular thought — to reach home and be with family in this time of crisis. These set of people hailing from outside Chennai had taken their chances by initially staying in the city amid the growing spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic. But the announcement of section 144 induced panic. Koushika Krishnakumar, a 24-year-old IT professional who hails from Coimbatore, has been working in Chennai. When she heard about section 144, she immediately rushed to CMBT on Monday afternoon with three other friends also from Coimbatore. “For about 2 hours, from 4 pm to 6 pm I tried everything to find a seat in a bus travelling to Coimbatore. I could not find any Coimbatore bus at the terminus. A couple of Salem buses were available but they were completely occupied,” she says, recalling details from that evening. Kaushaka explains that she was unable to book tickets online. “Booking for private buses, the page would simply not proceed any further and when you called the bus service, there would be no response. Only those who went in person to the booking office were able to get their tickets. The rates too were at least Rs 500 more than what they’d usually charge,” she adds. Koushika also says that while buses to Vellore and Dharmapuri were relatively free, it was the buses to Thanjavur, Kumbakonam and other south Tamil Nadu districts that were unbelievably crowded. Many pointed out the futility of the exercise by this overcrowding. While section 144 has been imposed to bring about stricter enforcement of self-isolation, the very fact that thousands gathered in one place, and are now scattering to the rest of the state was a worrying sight. When asked if she found more buses running to one district, as assured by the government, she notes, “No, in place of four private buses, only two were allowed by the government. So if one bus operator had four buses running to Coimbatore daily, he was able to operate only two. As for government-run buses, it was just one.” Left with no other choice, Koushika finally reached out to a friend’s father’s friend who was driving to Coimbatore. “About five of us travelled in the car to Salem and we started around 11 pm. There was a lot of traffic on the highway and it took till 7.15 am to reach Salem. I then took a bus that was relatively freer to reach Coimbatore. Since we were not allowed to drive through Erode, we took a different route and reached Coimbatore in 4 hours,” she says. As for Vishwanathan Govindarajan, the journey back home to Madurai from Chennai would be his most memorable, he says, having made the best out of a grave situation. The 24-year-old IT professional who was residing in Thiruvanmiyur in Chennai while working for a Noida-based firm took a moment to assess the situation before deciding to go back home. “A lot of them had already left to their respective hometowns and a very few of us were here in Chennai. When I saw those pictures being shared from Koyambedu, I decided to reach Tambaram instead and find a bus that was going to Madurai,” he shares. Vishwanathan with Karthik and Karuppiah Vishwanathan continues, “I chose not to go to Koyambedu because it is a risk. We don't know what might happen after the 31st and I was left with no option but to go back home. But staying safe is most important. I did not want to become a carrier of the virus while going back home.” He also notes that for those staying away from homes in Chennai, availability to food was their biggest concern. “We can't expect most hotels to stay open even if they are allowed to deliver their food. And most of us depend on food from hotels,” he explains. However, Tambaram and Perungalathur were not any better so Vishwanathan was left in a pickle. He reached out to his friend Karthik whose father Karuppiah is an auto-rickshaw driver in the city. “I went to their house in Maduravoyal and stayed for the night. We began at 4 am the next day in his auto and reached Melur in Madurai by 2 pm. Uncle was kind enough to take me to Madurai,” shares the 24-year-old IT professional. Vishwanathan, who admits that they had a good time driving to Madurai in an auto, makes a few important notes on the journey itself. “It is usual to see buses plying on highways but this time we saw many of them riding doubles and triples on bikes. People loaded themselves onto mini trucks, children holding on to their parents… We also saw a few accidents en route. Availability of petrol was a problem. Many bunks on the highway did not have. At some point, we had to walk for about half-hour to buy petrol in a can,” he shares.
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Prisoners arrested on petty cases let out on interim bail in TN to prevent COVID-19

March 24, 2020, 10:53 pm
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According to reports, 1,180 prisoners from nine central prisons for men, five special prisons for women, district jails and sub-jails have been released.
TNM Staff
Image for Representation
Tamil Nadu on Tuesday had 18 reported COVID-19 patients, including one who recovered, and on Wednesday morning it reported its first COVID-19 death. Amid the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the state judiciary and police department together have made the decision to decongest prisons by releasing prisoners who've been arrested in petty cases.  Times of India reports that across the state, 1,180 prisoners from nine central prisons for men, five special prisons for women, district jails and sub-jails have been released as a precautionary measure to mitigate the spreading of novel coronavirus. These include prisons in Puzhal, Madurai, Palayamkottai, Vellore, Cuddalore, Trichy, and Salem. On Tuesday, 67 prisoners from various prisons in Salem, including Salem Central Prison, and sub-jails in the district were released on interim bail. They have been asked to appear at their respective courts on April 9 at 11.00 am. On Monday, 156 prisoners were released on bail from the Coimbatore Central Prison based on court orders. Earlier on Saturday, 58 from Madurai Central Prison were released. Prison departments too have tightened their precautionary measures. The Hindu reports that the central prison in Trichy is regularly disinfecting its premises, has installed hand washing facilities and will be procuring face masks for its officials first. According to another report in The Hindu, a public interest litigation petition has been filed at the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. Petitioner P Thangaraj, coordinator of Prisoners Reform Intervention Support Mission (PRISM) suggested that trials could be held via videoconferencing. Thangaraj has requested that petty offenders could be let out on bail to ease the situation and to avoid overcrowding. He also said that prisons should have isolation wards in place and new entrants must be quarantined for 14 days. As on Wednesday, Tamil Nadu has reported 18 COVID-19 positive cases.
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Chennai corporation says e-commerce companies can deliver – but only essentials

March 25, 2020, 12:57 am
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The civic body has further stated that delivery agents must strictly follow protocols of 'contactless delivery'.
Priyanka Thirumurthy
The Greater Chennai Corporation has directed e-commerce companies that have services in Chennai to deliver only essentials, including food and groceries. It has further stated that delivery agents must strictly follow protocols of 'contactless delivery'. This includes companies such as Grofers, Big Basket and Amazon.  Amongst the guidelines given to ensure contactless delivery are – personal protective equipment like masks, gloves, caps for employees right from production to delivery; and deliveries to be made at final location without any contact with the person accepting the order. “Companies that break those protocols at any point of inspection will be barred from delivering further,” warned Corporation Commissioner G Prakash. The Commissioner further stated, "Cooked food distribution by any agency or volunteers is totally banned and if anyone is found to do so will be dealt with by provisions of law. It will in itself scone a source of spread of the virus." The entire country is currently under lockdown to combat the spread of the coronavirus and the Prime Minister said on Tuesday that essential services will continue to function. However there have been differences in what the state has classified as essential and what the Centre has classified as the same. This has led to e-commerce services that provide groceries including Big Basket and Grofers to face problems across the country. Delivery executives have been stopped and questioned by the police, halted from delivering and even beaten up in certain cases.  Meanwhile e-commerce giant Flipkart has suspended services temporarily, while Amazon has decided to deliver only essentials. Rajneesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Flipkart said in a statement that, "We are prioritising the safety of our delivery executives and seeking the support of the local governments and police authorities to meet the needs of our customers as they stay home during this lockdown." Amazon on its website, meanwhile, has stated, “To serve customers’ most urgent needs while also ensuring the safety of our associates, we are prioritizing all our resources to service products that are currently high priority for customers. Other products are temporarily unavailable for purchase."  
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3 women and a one-year-old child die in Theni forest fire

March 25, 2020, 1:05 am
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The group of eight adults and a child was trapped in the middle of a forest fire on Tuesday afternoon.
Megha Kaveri
Three women and a one-year-old child were killed in a forest fire in the Western Ghats in Theni district on Tuesday. According to the police, the deceased have been identified as Kiruthika (1), Vijayamani (45), Maheswari (36), and Manjula (38). Five others – Kalpana (48), Badrani (43), Onduveeran (49), Anand (27) and Lokesh (25) have been admitted to Theni Medical College Hospital with injuries. The group of eight adults and a child was trapped in the middle of a forest fire on Tuesday afternoon. They were all residents of Rasingapuram in Bodinayakanur taluk in Theni district and worked in cardamom estates in Paethotti in Idukki district, Kerala. On Monday, they had reportedly chosen to come back home through the forests since the state borders were closed to prevent the spread of coronavirus, and got stuck in the fire. One of the relatives of the group members had alerted the district fire and rescue services around 2.30 pm on Tuesday about the fire. Following the distress call, a team of around 100 personnel from various departments, like the forest department, police department including 30 commandos, were pressed into service to rescue those who were trapped in the fire. Fire engines from Theni, Bodinayakanur and Uthamapalayam were also rushed to the spot to try and douse the fire.  Forest fire in this region of Western Ghats is common in the summer. In 2018, 23 people were killed in a forest fire in Kurangani hills in Theni district. The group of trekkers included many from cities like Chennai and Erode who were part of trekking and tourist groups. In July 2018, a report submitted by a one-man Commission of the then Principal Secretary of Revenue and Disaster Management Atulya Misra revealed severe lapses on the part of the district forest officials for the tragedy. 
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TN reports 5 new cases of COVID-19, includes 4 Indonesian travellers and 1 Chennai man

March 25, 2020, 3:06 am
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With these five new cases of COVID-19, the total number in Tamil Nadu rises to 23.
TNM Staff
Image for Representation/PTI
The test results of 4 Indonesian nationals and their Indian travel guide from Chennai who were quarantined in Salem Medical College since March 22 has returned positive. With these five new cases of COVID-19, the total number in Tamil Nadu rises up to 23. Minister of Health and Family Welfare shared the news of five new cases on Wednesday. #update: 5 news cases of #COVID19 in TN. 4 Indonesian nationals & their travel guide from Chennai test positive at #Salem Medical College. Quarantined since 22.3.20 @MoHFW_INDIA @CMOTamilNadu #vijayabaskar— Dr C Vijayabaskar (@Vijayabaskarofl) March 25, 2020 As of March 25, the samples of 890 passengers have been processed of which 757 samples are negative. 23 samples are positive for COVID-19 infection of which 1 has been discharged and 110 samples are under process. #COVID19 TN Stats 25.3.20 : Screened Passengers- 2,09,276 Under Followup - 15,492 Current Admissions- 211 Samples Tested - 890 (Negative-757, Positive- 23(1 discharged),Under Process- 110) #TN_Together_AgainstCorona #Vijayabaskar @MoHFW_INDIA — Dr C Vijayabaskar (@Vijayabaskarofl) March 25, 2020 Early this morning, Tamil Nadu reported its first COVID-19 death. Patient 12, the 54-year-old man from Madurai, who had medical history, passed away in Madurai Government Rajaji Hospital. Minister had shared details of the patient's medical history of "prolonged illness with steroid dependent COPD, uncontrolled Diabetes with Hypertension.” While it was first reported that his source of infection was unknown, given that he had no travel history, it was later confirmed by the Minister that the patient had come in contact with the two Thailand nationals who had tested positive for COVID-19. The two Thai nationals are currently undergoing treatment at Erode hospital. As per the latest bulletin from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on March 23, Tamil Nadu has 15,298 passengers under home quarantine for 28 days. 43 asymptomatic passengers from highly affected countries are being quarantined in quarantine facilities near airport and 116 are under hospital isolation.  On March 24, the state reported 3 new cases of COVID-19. This includes a 65-year-old man who returned from New Zealand and is currently admitted at a private hospital, a 55-year-old woman from Saidapet who is currently at Kilpauk Medical College, and a 25-year-old who returned from London and is at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital.
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Four people booked in Chennai for violating quarantine guidelines

March 25, 2020, 5:22 am
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While a 45-year-old construction engineer was booked on Tuesday, three others were booked on Wednesday.
Priyanka Thirumurthy
(Image for representation)
Four people have been booked in Chennai in the last two days for violating strict guidelines from the state Health Department officials to remain under home quarantine. While a 45-year-old construction engineer was booked on Tuesday, three others were booked on Wednesday. In the first case, the engineer reportedly sneaked out of his house in Kodambakkam despite being instructed to stay back by the Health Department. He was booked by the Chennai police based on a complaint filed by the Health Officer of Zone-10, Suganya Devi. A police team detained him and took him back to his house. The engineer had recently returned from Dubai where he was overseeing some construction work. On Wednesday meanwhile, police registered a case against three people who violated home quarantine orders and ventured out. While two of them were from Koyambedu, the third is from Thirumangalam. According to the police the two men from Koyambedu are a father-son duo who returned from Baghdad in Iraq on March 22. They left Koyambedu where they were quarantined without permission from authorities to return to their native town. While their identity has been kept under wraps, police have revealed that they have been booked under sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease,  70 (anybody who does a malignant act which he/she knows is likely to spread an infectious disease dangerous to life), 271 (flouting of quarantine rules), Section 3 of Epidemics diseases Act (penalties for disobeying any regulation or order made under the Act) and Sec 51(b) of Disaster Management Act (obstruction of the functions under the Act). On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country. Even before that, Tamil Nadu had announced that it was imposing section 144 in the state from 6 pm on Tuesday. Those who were advised to remain under home quarantine were warned to follow the guidelines given by the Health Minister to avoid infecting anyone if they were carriers of the virus. In addition to this, the state has been putting up stickers outside the homes of those who have been instructed to remain under quarantine and also been putting stamps on the hands of new arrivals. There are currently 15,492 people under quarantine in the state.   
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COVID-19: TN CM writes to PM, seeks Rs 4000 crore as special relief package

March 25, 2020, 7:10 am
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In a letter written on Wednesday, Edappadi K Palaniswami also requested a slew of other benefits to help people survive the pandemic.
TNM Staff
File Image
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Edappadi K Palaniswami has requested Rs 4000 crore as a relief package from the Centre to tide over the coronavirus outbreak. In a letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, the Chief Minister lauded him on his ‘bold and decisive measures’ taken to address the spread of coronavirus in the country. Pledging Tamil Nadu’s solidarity with his efforts to tackle the pandemic, the letter said, “The Government of Tamil Nadu is determined to stand firm with the Government of India to protect the country from the consequences of this virus pandemic.” He requested Rs 3000 crore assistance from the Centre towards augmenting and strengthening the health infrastructure in the state, Rs 500 crore towards Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme (MGNREGS) where the workers will be forced to stay jobless due to the prevailing situation and Rs 500 towards providing special relief to those working in the unorganised sector in Tamil Nadu. “I request you to allot a sum of Rs 500 crores to provide a special wage loss and relief package for unorganized sector workers in the State to help them overcome their immediate hardships.” Thanking the Prime Minister for announcing a Rs 15,000 crore package to strengthen the health infrastructure across the country, the Chief Minister stated that he had also recently announced several relief measures for the people of Tamil Nadu who would be affected in the lockdown period announced in the state till March 31. Listing down the measures taken by the government of Tamil Nadu to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, he stated that 10,000 beds have been earmarked across the state to treat COVID-19 patients. He also pointed towards Tamil Nadu’s vulnerability towards SARS-CoV-2 due to the large number of international passengers using the four international airports in the state and the fact that Tamil Nadu shares its borders with states where the initial outbreak of the disease was severe. “Hence, while immediate measures have been taken, we will need to prepare for a significantly higher case load in the coming weeks and months,” he wrote. The Chief Minister had recently announced Rs 3820 crore for supplying ration items free of cost to the people of Tamil Nadu for the month of April and Rs 1000 per family for loss of wages due to the lockdown till March 31. Now that the lockdown has been extended till April 15 due to the Prime Minister’s announcement, the Chief Minister emphasised that this would add to the burden of the poorest of the poor. “..the impact on the poorest and daily wage workers will be the most as they face an immediate loss of livelihood and have very limited savings to face the adversity.” In addition to the request for a special relief package, Edappadi K Palaniswami also requested the Prime Minister to consider rescheduling bank loan repayments for at least six months. “Hence, I request that as a special measure, bank loan repayments can be rescheduled at least for two quarters, without treating them as NPAs. Interest and penalties can be waived for the two quarters. The working capital loans to all industries and businesses can be enhanced by 50 per cent without seeking any additional collateral from the enterprises,” he wrote. He also sought for relaxation in the union norms of fiscal deficit and borrowing that a state can undertake. “Further, additional borrowing of 33 per cent above the level permitted for the fiscal year 2019-20 may be allowed for 2020-21 to enable the States to meet the additional expenditure requirements,” the letter requested. 
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‘Who will protect us?’: Doctors and nurses in TN, Telangana allege lack of safety gear

March 25, 2020, 8:21 am
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Doctors and Nurses in Tamil Nadu and Telangana allege that there is a lack of sufficient protective gear even as they fight a healthcare crisis.
Mithun MK
Priyanka Thirumurthy
Image for representation
On Monday evening, Tamil Nadu Health Minister Dr C Vijayabhaskar sent out a warning. He tweeted, "There is false information on social media that few government hospitals are running short of masks, gloves, PPE, etc. Tamil Nadu has more than sufficient stock in hand that can comfortably run for the coming days. Strict action will be taken for spreading rumours.” #UPDATE: there’s a false information on social media that few govt hospitals are running short of masks, gloves,PPE etc. #TNHealth has more than sufficient stock in hand that can comfortably run for the coming days. Strict action will be taken for spreading rumours. #CVB pic.twitter.com/AI6vKXJpsu — Dr C Vijayabaskar (@Vijayabaskarofl) March 23, 2020 His tweet came in the wake of multiple complaints online about the shortage of protective gear, from postgraduate medical students and resident doctors in Government hospitals across the state which were either gearing up or already treating COVID-19 patients. Several doctors who contacted TNM within minutes of the tweet alleged that this was a deliberate attempt by the government to stop the medical fraternity from raising their voice. Several sources in Tamil Nadu's government hospitals have confirmed that there is not enough safety gear - specifically N-95 masks given to practitioners unless they worked in the isolated ward with COVID-19 patients. #update: at Stanley with the Dean,RMO & team.The hospital has a 24x7 fever clinic, medical team is available round the clock. Appreciation goes beyond words, that’s the commitment shown by these professionals. Big salute!!#TN_Together_AgainstCorona @MoHFW_INDIA @CMOTamilNadu pic.twitter.com/es4Sh97a9o — Dr C Vijayabaskar (@Vijayabaskarofl) March 23, 2020 According to the U.S Food & Drug administration website, an N-95 respirator is a protective device 'designed to achieve a very close facial fit and very efficient filtration of airborne particles'. Even the Centre for Diseases Control has stated that N-95 masks are the most effective gear for medical practitioners. When properly fitted and worn, it has minimal leakage and almost all the air is directed through the filter media."Let's say a patient in Chennai has all symptoms of COVID-19 and even travel history. They are advised to go to a government hospital immediately. They choose either the Rajiv Gandhi Government General hospital (RGGGH) or Stanley Medical college. As soon as they enter, the first person they come in contact with is a doctor from the Out Patient Department (OPD)," says a doctor from Stanley Medical College, on the condition of anonymity. "And these doctors are not given the N95 mask," he alleges. The doctor insists that all patients with symptoms of even flu must be treated as COVID-19 positive unless the test proves otherwise. “In such a case, shouldn't these doctors be given protective gear? The only ones who get the gear, be it the suit or even a mask, are the ones working in the isolation ward," says the doctor. "This is the case across hospitals in Tamil Nadu and if we question the administration, there is no proper reason given. There are at-least 300 patients coming to the OPD everyday, and doctors who are sitting there are exposed to them," he adds. Another doctor from Stanley Medical College states that despite asking for gear, practitioners are given only cloth masks, which serve no purpose against the virus. "We are very scared," says the doctor, who sees patients on a daily basis. "We are not directly involved with isolated patients but even the ones coming to us, we don't know who could possibly be a carrier of the virus and who is not. How can we do our jobs without fear?" she asks. Visible signs of shortage "In the Chengalpattu government hospital, there is a sign on the notice board saying that 'Everybody should wear their own face mask due to non-availability of government supply', " says Dr. Shanthi, the secretary of Doctors' Association for Social Equality. She further shared a note from the Director and Superintendent of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Government Hospital for Women and Children in Egmore which instructs postgraduate Medical students to "Have personal protective equipment on your own." However, after the letter went viral on social media, the director of the hospital recalled it and said that the hospital had sufficient supplies. "They are putting the burden of avoiding infection on the doctors without even investing in the right protective gear for them," says Dr.Shanthi. "There should be an open forum in which medical students and doctors can actually complain. A common online forum should allow them to complain without their identity being revealed. A second step that must be taken is to at-least tell doctors exactly where, what protective gear is available and make sure they get preference when buying these," she adds. Several doctors further pointed to a picture posted by the health minister recently, which depicts the existing situation in government hospitals. In the photo, the minister is seen wearing an N-95 mask as he speaks to a doctor outside a fever special clinic. The doctor addressing him is wearing a cloth mask while all the other doctors behind him are in either 2 ply or 3 ply masks. "If this doesn't explain the situation in our hospital," asks Dr.Shanthi, "then what will?" In Telangana too the situation is worrisome, say medical practitioners, but not for the doctors. Nurses not protected It’s not easy being a nurse at Chest Hospital at Erragadda in Hyderabad, one of 52 hospitals where an isolation ward was set up to treat COVID-19 patients. “The doctor stays only till 2 pm and is only available on call after that, the COVID-19 patients are then managed by the ward nurses. The ward attendees and sanitation staff have not been trained on how to deal with COVID-19 patients. There is no protocol established yet for protecting hospital staff working at OP section from COVID-19, all cases arrive there first,” a member of the staff at the hospital told TNM on the condition of anonymity.  About 19 coronavirus positive patients are undergoing treatment at this hospital. When these shortcomings were highlighted, the medical superintendent reportedly told the staff, “Not to make it an issue”. On March 21, the staff of Chest Hospital wrote a letter to their medical superintendent, with 20 points, highlighting the problems faced by them at the COVID-19 isolation ward. The hospital superintendent gave assurances. However, the staff were told not to leak the contents of their letter to the media. Nurses have also written to the authorities requesting the government to establish protocols to work in COVID-19 ward at different stages: OP-based care, suspect cases, and confirmed cases. They are also asking for demonstration of doffing and donning procedure in the ward. “Apart from the nurses, other staff who come in contact with COVID-19 patients have not been trained in this procedure. We are asking for proper PPE according to the size of the staff with zip, including slippers, that the WHO recommends. The patient first comes to the OP ward, we the nurses and doctors are the ones who get exposed first,” the staff adds. They also allege that the isolation ward is not being cleaned regularly, on the hour. Further, they allege that there are no Tympanic thermometers or biohazard waste bins. Patients also request basic provisions such as soap, toothbrushes, and Wi-Fi. The staff also say patients panic when electricity, water supply, food supply are disrupted or when there is a lack of personnel to distribute food to them. Infection control measures have not been taught to the fourth class workers including daily wage workers and IP patients. The existing staff nurses have also called for more staff to be deputed. At present there is no provision for hand washing with elbow taps in most hospitals, say the nurses in charge of the COVID-19 ward. When asked if the Chest Hospital has adequate PPE to manage a rise in positive COVID-19 cases, the hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Mahaboob Khan said, “We have adequate numbers of PPE. We have 500 Level 1, and 150 Level 2 (N-95) PPEs at our hospital. These are adequate. Both can be used against COVID-19. For a suspected case we can use Level 1 and for a positive case we can use Level 2.”  Dr Khan said. He was clearly unhappy that the letter had reached the media. Nurses at hospitals fear authorities would jeopardize their pension and benefits for highlighting the shortcomings at the COVID-19 wards but have no choice but to ask for help. 
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