(Eds: adds details; nodal officer's quotes) Chennai, May 3 () A 44-year-old man died ofcoronavirus in Tamil Nadu, taking the toll in the state to 30as the number of positive cases crossed the 3,000-mark with266 more getting infected by the virus on Sunday.The man from Coimbatore became the latest victim to thecontagion, a bulletin from the health department said.The state capital continued to contribute the major chunkof COVID-19 cases at 203, the bulletin said.As many as 266 fresh COVID-19 cases were confirmed in thestate, taking the aggregate to 3,023, it said.Tamil Nadu has been witnessing an increase in thepositive cases since last week as the government machineryenhanced testing facilities to identify the COVID-19 cases. According to health department, the government districtheadquarters hospital in Ramanathapuram district and a privatehospital in Chennai were added to the list of existing testingcentres taking the total number of such facilities operatingin the state to 49. The number of samples tested on Sunday stood at 10,617while 37,206 people were in home quarantine and 40 ingovernment facilities.As many as 38 people were discharged after treatment onSunday alone taking the cumulative to 1,379 in the state. Of the new positive cases, 187 were men and the remainingwomen patients.Eight people below the age of 10 years were among thoseinfected.Earlier, senior IAS officer J Radhakrishnan, appointed asSpecial Nodal Officer for Greater Chennai Corporation, toldreporters that people were found to be 'negligent' by notwearing masks and appealed to them to extend their support tothe government's measures in order to control the spread ofvirus.The former Health secretary recalled that during aninspection he undertook in North Chennai, he was able to seepeople moving around without masks. "Wearing the mask is not only for your protection butalso helps prevent the spread of virus," he said.The government is taking aggressive testing and that iswhy we are able to see high positive cases. People shouldextend their cooperation" he told reporters.Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner G Prakash, whowas also present, said marriage halls within the city limitswould be used to accommodate COVID-19 patients. "There are government and private schools, which comeunder our purview. Besides, there are about 750 marriage hallsin Chennai and they will be taken over by us... it is anational emergency. We will be adding more beds for the coronapatients," he said.Elaborating, the top official said, "It will be a simpleand effective strategy so that serious COVID-19 patients wouldbe taken to the hospitals, while mild cases and thoserequiring rest will be quarantined at the facilities set up atschools and marriage halls." "It is for this purpose we are planning to procure 50,000beds, of which 4,000 were already set up..," he said. VIJROH ROH

One dies of COVID-19 in TN; 266 new cases reported

<ul><li>All the customers visiting a <keyword id="6561754" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="beauty-parlour">beauty parlour</keyword> or a <keyword id="6358603" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="salon">salon</keyword> are required to submit their name, address, mobile phone numbers and <keyword id="144117" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="AADHAAR">Aadhaar</keyword> to help contact tracing for <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword>. </li><li>Moreover, salons are requested not to use air conditioners. </li><li>Also, the owners and workers of the salons, beauty parlours and <keyword id="6752581" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="spas">spas</keyword> are asked to avoid touching their nose, mouth and eyes often.</li></ul>For Indians who have been desperately wanting a <keyword id="26553" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="haircut">haircut</keyword>, a trip to the salon would need them to carry not just their wallets but also their Aadhaar cards. As per the latest standard operating procedures (<keyword id="50548" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sop">SOP</keyword>) issued for salons, beauty parlours and spas in Tamil Nadu, all the customers are required to submit their name, address, mobile phone numbers and Aadhaar to help contact tracing for COVID-19. "The salons, beauty parlours and spas should maintain a register for noting down the name, address, mobile number and Aadhaar card details of the customers," the circular issued by Commissioner of Revenue Administration J Radhakrishnan to District Collectors said. Not this just, there a whole lot of other restrictions that people might have to follow when heading to a salon. Here are the other conditions laid down for salons, beauty parlours and spas during Unlock 1.0: <ul><li>With a view to maintain physical distancing and to avoid gathering of many customers simultaneously, the salons, beauty parlours and spas should adopt 'service by appointment'.</li><li>Of the total number of seats, only 50% of the seats should be occupied by the customers with due space between them. Only a minimum number of customers should be allowed to wait.</li><li>The blade used for one customer should not be used for another and the used blades should be removed safely. Removed hair, face pack used etc., should be removed safely.</li><li>Only disposable towels should be used. If the towels and hand bands are used again, they should be used for the second customer only after washing them.</li><li>Hair straightening machine, hair curling machine, spa stones and heater, slimming equipment, face and hair steamers, laser hair remover, hood face dryers and sanitizers should be cleaned with sanitiser before and after use.</li><li>Air conditioning facilities should not be used and all windows should be opened for ensuring good air circulation.</li><li>Chairs, handles, tables, handles of doors, mirrors and massage beds and chairs, the beds used for pedicure and facials/spa trolleys, water taps which are used often in salons, beauty parlours and spas should be sanitised five times a day with hypochlorite mixture or Lysol.</li><li>The salons, beauty parlours and spas should ensure availability of paper napkins for the workers to help them clean their hands and remove them safely.</li><li>The workers should clean their hands using sanitiser before and after completing their work. They should wear masks and gloves.</li><li>The owners and workers of the salons, beauty parlours and spas should avoid touching their nose, mouth and eyes often.</li></ul>SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/pm-modi-speech-highlights-during-cii-anniversary/articleshow/76149631.cms">‘India will get its growth back’, says a confident PM Modi in an address to top industry leaders</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/the-biggest-solar-flare-since-2017-spotted-by-nasa-and-there-could-be-more-to-come-as-the-sun-wakes-up/articleshow/76149227.cms">The biggest solar flare since 2017 spotted by NASA — and there could be more to come as the Sun wakes up</a>

Want a haircut? You won’t get one without an Aadhaar Card during Unlock 1.0

Chennai, Jun 4 () People violating curbs in containment zones and endangering the health of others will be put under institutional quarantine to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, a senior official said here on Thursday amid rising COVID-19 infections in Chennai. Seeking "constructive support" from the public to break the chain of virus spread, J Radhakrishnan, special nodal officer to tackle COVID-19 in Chennai, rued that some people who had opted for home quarantine could be seen roaming around in cars. Tamil Nadu had reported 1,286 new positive cases yesterday with Chennai accounting for 1,012 of the fresh infections, its highest in a day so far. It was also the fourth successive day the state was reporting 1,000 plus cases. Citing an instance of people breaking the cordon in containment zones and moving out freely without masks, he told reporters here that such people could endanger the health of others as well. "They are not only deceiving themselves, but the virus is spreading to others as well through such behaviour. If people behave like this, we will put them under institutional quarantine and we may also lodge cases against them as others should not be affected by such people." Answering a question, he said if positive patients who had opted for home isolation voluntarily were found violating norms endangering public health, they will also be put under institutional quarantine, he said. If a locality was officially declared as a containment zone, people should come forward to cooperate and follow the safety norms outlined by the government, he appealed. He also listed out localities where the spread of the contagion has been curtailed due to cooperation of people in containment zones and sought a similar response from the rest of public. Describing as a big challenge several people not wearing masks, especially in congested urban areas, he said wearing masks, following hand hygiene and other government stipulated norms were the only effective steps against the spread of the virus. Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner G Prakash said a scheme to provide Rs 1,000 assistance to weaker sections to help offset loss of income during their institutional quarantine period has become operational. People were being provided a mattress, two pillows, blanket and a bucket for use during institutional quarantine, he said. Besides Rs 1,000 assistance, people will be allowed take things like mattress home, he said. The civic body chief said while about 85 per cent of people in home quarantine followed norms diligently to help avoid the spread of the virus, the rest were not doing so. The issue of some people not following home quarantine norms was being deliberated officially, he said and indicated tightening of regulations for people who violated stipulations. To a question on some firms allegedly insisting on a "COVID-19 negative certificate" from employees for resuming work, he said such a demand is illegal. People who have recovered from COVID-19 are eligible for all work, he said. Some private labs allegedly engaged agents and had tie-ups and "separately we are taking action against them" he said, adding action will be taken if complaints were lodged with authorities on "tests done by private labs on the basis of commercial interests." VGN BN WELCOME BN WELCOME

COVID-19: Violators of curbs in containment zones will be put under institutional quarantine: TN official

Chennai, May 4 () Koyambedu market for vegetables,fruits and flowers, one of the largest in the country thatused to teem with thousands of people every day here, hasemerged as the latest hotspot for the spread of coronaviruscases in Tamil Nadu.The development has prompted authorities to shift themarket -spread over 295 acres with over 3,000 outlets of whichonly about 200 of them are presently functional- to suburbanTirumazhisai from Thursday.Of the 527 positive cases on Monday, a "large number arelinked to the Koyambedu market," a bulletin said while roughestimates provided by officials here and in districts peggedat least 450 cases to have a link to the market place.In Chennai alone, at least 215 of the 266 new cases werelinked to the Koyambedu market.Districts, including Cuddalore, which witnessed return ofworkers to their native villages from the market place, haveseen a similar surge.Cuddalore reported as many as 122 new cases today from acumulative figure of just 39 (till May 3 from March 8 whenTamil Nadu reported its first coronavirus case) and at least124 of them are related to Koyambedu, officials said. Previously, returnees from a religious congregation inDelhi had led to a spurt in coronavirus cases in the state.On why the market has emerged as a hotspot, a publichealth expert told that the spread happened among traders/shopkeepers and it was not strange as they were in directcontact with a host of others like vendors and truck driverswith a history of continuous travel to several regions withhigh COVID-19 cases like Maharashtra.Closing down the market or scaling down operations at theinitial stage of lockdown as in the case of other segments wasnot possible as vegetable was a food staple and such a measuremay have scared people, he said.Hence, the available option of imposing regulations,stipulating social distancing, personal hygiene and protectionmeasures like wearing masks were relentlessly enforced by theauthorities, he pointed out.Ever since a vegetable vendor tested positive from themarket last week, Greater Chennai Corporation authoritiesstepped up surveillance and deployed a team of healthpersonnel and a mobile van for testing purposes.Besides the vendor, another flower dealer and ahairdresser in the market's vicinity had tested positive forthe coronavirus during the same period and following suchcases, a new high in the number of infections among thoselinked to the market is now being witnessed.Also, effective last Thursday, retail trade wasdisallowedand flower and fruit vendors too scaled down theiroperations.Following the restrictions, there has been a drastic dropin footfalls in the market.Officials said that approximately 4,900 people from themarket place, including owners of outlets and workers, have sofar been tested and complete results were yet to be out.Considering today's trend of a big chunk of them testingpositive, there was a chance that several others might alsoturn positive, they indicated.Since the market has become a concern for authorities,State Disaster Response Force and Armed Reserve personnel weredeployed as part of efforts to regulate movement of tradersand help prevent the further spread of the contagion. After inspecting the market, Commissioner of RevenueAdministration and special nodal officer here for COVID-19initiatives here, J Radhakrishnan told reporters that focusedtesting was on at the market place under which all theemployees were being tested.In view of targeted testing, the number of positive caseswas likely to go up, he said, adding that however the rise innumbers was not a cause for concern as all anti-COVID-19efforts were being taken by the government.Pointing out that several people who tested positive wereasymptomatic, he said arrangements were on to house suchpatients in facilities like colleges and the Trade Centre atNandambakkam, which are designated as Covid Care Centres,rather than in hospitals. VGNAPRVS VS

COVID-19: Koyambedu market emerges as TN's new hotspot

Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> today announced an immediate release of Rs.1,000 crore for relief and rehabilitation works in <keyword id="20154" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword>, after an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas. 
 
"A sum of Rs. 1,000 crore will be released immediately by the Government of India to carry out relief works. This will be in addition to Rs.940 crore which was released earlier (by the Centre)," he said in a brief statement at the naval base "INS Adyar" here. 
 
Flanked by Governor K Rosaiah and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, Modi began his brief statement with a sentence in Tamil telling people of Tamil Nadu, "I will be in support of you". 
 
Switching to English, Modi said he has seen the damage and misery caused by the monsoon fury. 
 
"People of India stay with people of Tamil Nadu in this hour of need," he said after the survey in which he was accompanied by Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan, who hails from Tamil Nadu. 
 
Modi also tweeted later, "The Government of India stands shoulder to shoulder with the people of Tamil Nadu in this hour of need." 
 
"I have directed that Rs. 1000 crore be released immediately by the Govt of India to Tamil Nadu for immediate relief," he said in another tweet. 
 
"I have seen the damage and misery caused by the extremely heavy rainfall," said another of his tweet. 
 
The prime minister made the announcement after holding consultations with the Chief Minister at the naval base here. 
 Earlier, Modi arrived from Delhi at the naval working station 'INS Rajali' in Arakkonam, about 60 km from here, and made an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas of <keyword id="12864" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Chennai">Chennai</keyword>, its suburbs and Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur districts. 
 
After an earlier spell of heavy rains and damage in November, the prime minister had announced release of Rs.940 crore to Tamil Nadu. 
 
Image credit: Indiatimes

You Searched For "J Radhakrishnan" and got 5 results

One dies of COVID-19 in TN; 266 new cases reported

PTI

Want a haircut? You won’t get one without an Aadhaar Card during Unlock 1.0

BI India Bureau

COVID-19: Violators of curbs in containment zones will be put under institutional quarantine: TN official

PTI

COVID-19: Koyambedu market emerges as TN's new hotspot

PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announces Rs 1,000 crore relief for flood-hit Tamil Nadu

BI India Bureau