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State asks docs to fix SOP to battle virus 1,00

fr
sti
Anxious citizens turn up at Kasturba, Govt plans to rope in pvt labs s
keep doctors at BMC helplines busy to speed up screening, testing Suj

Malathy Iyer & Richa Pinto TNN Some steps state has taken ronavirus at Mumbai, Pune Mumb

Mumbai: If the steady stream

9 CASES FROM ONE GROUP Pune collector has legislature cut short by a week
and Nagpur. Considering fu- eray o
ture needs, there should be at had a d
of visitors, especially in swan- Of the group of 40 that returned imposed Disaster -- it will end on March 14 as least 10 more labs active. The operato
ky cars, to the BMC-run Kas- from Dubai on March 1, four from Management Act against March 20 decision been taken to create they in
turba Hospital near Saat Rasta Pune tested positive on Tuesday and to better utilize CM says experts have a lab at Mumbai airport so va- 1,000 to
on Wednesday was an indica- 1 driver who took them to Pune from resources and rious tests can take place the- tra wer
tor, Mumbaikars seem to be in
panic mode. A woman who
Mumbai
Three others who tested positive in
manpower
in govt
1000 tourists
from
state are in foreign
advised govt there is
no need for declaring re,” Sawant told TOI. “We ha
Deputy chief minister touch w
a school holiday as
walked into the Kasturba departments countries; they will Ajit Pawar, public health mi- ment of
Pune on Wednesday also from this group of now
complex seeking direction to and private nister Rajesh Tope, minister rists re
Two from Mumbai who tested positive be screened once
the Covid-19 OPD, said she had sector Union health for food and drugs admini- ning of
from the same group they return
had a cough for four days. Alt- minister asked to stration Rajendra Shingane, ne at th
hough she hadn’t visited any Visitors authorize more minister for tourism and en- The
Thus 9 positive cases from the group
foreign country or met people barred from private labs vironment Aaditya Thacke- rators
that came back from Dubai
who had travelled abroad, she coming inside in state to ray, former minister Sawant, with go
said, “I just want to be sure this While 1 case is that of the Pune driver, 1 Vidhan Bhavan; visitor officers from railways, ports, tourist
conduct
cough is not the coronavirus.” more came in from Nagpur on Wednesday passes no longer being issued airport administration and riving
tests
Two sisters who had returned Nagpur patient had come back from the US Budget session of Maharashtra experts from private hospi- He said
from Dubai on March 3 were tals attended the meeting. und wi
among those who wanted to be Tope said, “The Centre and co
sure they weren’t infected. certificate,” a man said. cided to station a doctor within average per day, 30 calls are be- Bhavika Jain & has asked us to avoid crowded tact th
At the end of Wednesday, The panic is also apparent the disaster control room to at- ing received, most from those Sujit Mahamulkar TNN to be received. areas and large gatherings, so Instruc
the hospital had taken 10 of in calls received by BMC’s dis- tend to queries Mumbaikars who have a travel history or The state has also asked large public gatherings will been gi
these OPD visitors into the qu- aster control room. Dr Santosh may have. Several doctors are planning to travel. Mumbai: Announcing plans senior doctors Dr Deepak be cancelled.” Tope added partme
arantine facility and planned Narayankar, 34, a post-gradua- from civic hospitals are statio- Narayankar recounts how to rope in private sector ho- Namjoshi, Dr Om Shrivasta- they have enough stock of Whi
to test them on Thursday. The te doctor in preventive social ned at the control room on a one caller said since he has re- spitals and diagnostic labora- va, Dr Prakash Jiandani, Dr masks and personal protec- the Pu
visitors included office-goers medicine attached to one of shift basis. Between March 6 turned from an international tories to speed up screening Abdul Ansari and Dr Bajan tion equipment for hospital the Dis
who wanted a certificate sta- the civic hospitals, has been at- and 11, 146 calls were received; destination, his office wants and testing for Covid-19, CM Khusrav along with former staff to last three months, and to bette
ting they were not infected and tending to calls from anxious 37 callers asked general infor- him to submit a ‘fitness certifi- Uddhav Thackeray said the health minister Dr Deepak fresh orders were made on urces a
could travel abroad or rejoin Mumbaikars for five days. So- mation such as symptoms of cate’ before he resumes work. state government has asked Sawant to draft an SOP (stan- Wednesday to stock up medi- vernme
office. “My office wants to send me callers who have a travel the virus, the testing locations But he is unable to produce it the Union health minister to dard operating procedure) in cal supplies. Thackeray and the pri
me to Kazakhstan, but I need a history ask questions such as and preventive measures, whi- as his family doctor has said authorize some more private a day. “The SOP may get imp- Ajit Pawar took a review from asked
certificate saying I don’t have “People around us are avoi- le 37 others called in stating there is a 14-day incubation pe- labs in the state to conduct Co- lemented from Thursday the divisional commissioner use ST
the virus. But Kasturba doc- ding us, what should we do?” they have cold and cough and if riod, only after which he would vid-19 tests as currently, it ta- with immediate effect. The and district magistrate, Pu- vision,
tors said I don’t need such a From March 6, the BMC de- they should take a test. On an be able to check him. kes up to six hours for results state has only 3 labs to test co- ne, via video conferencing. for crea
The

Do fever and cough mean Desi students delay foreign univ plans
sion of
lature h
week o
concer

you need Covid-19 test?

Hemali.Chhapia out of Thadomal Shahani En- March
Harvard, Stanford, MIT go online @timesgroup.com gineering College, has multi- the orig

H p
Mumbai: An admit from
Stanford calls for celebra-
arvard University, Stanford, MIT and University of
Washington have asked students to not return after the
spring break. Campuses are moving to virtual instructions.
ple admits from campuses sp-
anning three countries: Spa- postpon
in, USA and the UK. “I have rence to
The

tion. A call from Cambridge Syracuse University and New York University have closed their asked the universities to ex- Kolhap
GET YOUR DOUBTS CLEARED is seen as a passport to suc-
cess. But infected with fears
Florence campuses. Stanford’s on-campus housing was vacated.
University of Melbourne offered support of up to AUS$7,500 for
tend the deadline for pay- ple wer
ment of enrolment fees. They this wa
➤ There is no ➤ Disease is primarily reported over the Covid-19 spread, stu- students who incurred extra expenses due to travel curbs. have offered an extension till the con
community transmission in individuals with travel history dents are postponing confir- the end of March,” he said. lic mee
of novel coronavirus as to affected countries or those mation of their admissions. ay for educational institutes who wish to study abroad. Campuses are going qui- R Amb
yet, says Indian Council coming in close contact of India provides the second seeking information on wh- In a new survey of 2,000- et. Most have moved online.
of Medical Research infected people largest number of students
to countries around the
ether a campus is temporari-
ly shut or instructions are be-
plus students from Africa,
Asia, and Australasia by QS,
Travel advisories have been
issued and conferences, athl-
S
Who Should Go for Tests world. But admits for a blue- ing given at an alternative ca- nearly 3 in 10 (27%) said their etic meets, immersion trips
No H
chip MBA or a cutting-edge mpus or have moved online. plans had changed due to the and industry experiences ca-
➤ If you have had direct/close physical
contact with a Covid-19 patient, isolate
programme on quantum
computing mean nothing as
“There is tremendous un-
certainty among students.
virus while a much greater
proportion (61%) said their
lled off. Many Chinese stude-
nts may be unable to apply as fo
yourself at home for 14 days

P
candidates are unclear if Indian students have admits plans were not affected as yet. GMAT centres shut in China. arl
➤ If symptoms develop, testing may be campuses will open for the but they are not paying their As many as 37% said their “Students are mostly de- Pa
required new academic year. Requests enrolment deposits. In most plans had changed and the laying taking visas till June,” Ho
are going out from India see- cases, they are non-refundab- outbreaks have made them said Pratibha Jain, a counsel- after a
king extension of fee pay- le and may be as high as decide to defer their entry un- lor. Students said unofficial ministe
Don’t Visit Any Hospital Directly ment deadlines. US$5,000. Students are unsu- til next year while 33% said messages from universities it was
Meanwhile, USA has ask- re about whether the city they will now choose an alter- state entry may be delayed by would n
➤ District surveillance officer ➤ After taking samples, doctors
ed its schools to exercise flex- they are flying to will be safe nate destination. Just over a month. Some schools have rs. The
will visit you and may get you at nodal hospitals will assess your
Call health ibility with international st- or not. First it was Singapore, 11% of those whose plans had said if enrolment deposit is studen
transported to a designated condition. If hospitalisation is not
ministry’s 24X7 udents. The Student and Exc- now Europe and the USA,” changed said they no longer paid, it would be refunded or serve p
hospital for tests if chances of required, you may be advised to hange Visitor Programme re- said Karan Gupta, a counsel- wished to study abroad. admission could be deferred 10 minu
helpline number: infection are high stay isolated at home leased an advisory on Tuesd- lor who works with students Param Jain, who passed by a semester or a year. naviru
011-23978046 ➤ Separate ambulances are there ➤ If test results are positive, you

City schools follow Unicef norms, cancel crea

Sha
for transporting suspected cases; may require to remain quarantined
don’t use public transport for at least 14 days or till recovery

morning assembly, eye e-learning option I

If you have travelled to any Covid-19- If there’s no ndia
Who Doesn’t affected country in the past 14 days, go symptom, test is (IMA
Need Any Test for self-quarantine for 14 days not required data
daily w
Vinamrata.Borwankar ty status, age or gender. Edu- ated p
Source: ICMR

DurgeshNandan.Jha According to ICMR, those yed ambulances at strategic

@timesgroup.com ‘DISCOURAGE ATTENDANCE AWARDS’ cation settings should conti-
nue to be welcoming, respect-
said th
tals rem
@timesgroup.com who have travelled to high- locations across the cities. Mumbai: With year-end exa- Unesco action for Covid-19 (limit large groups of ful, inclusive, and supporti- the oth
risk countries — China, Ja- The person can call the Union ms on or coming up soon, mo- prevention in schools people), schools should: ve environments to all.” tion fo
Stagger beginning

W
ho should get tested pan, Italy and Iran — in the health ministry’s helpline — st city schools have already Sick students, teachers, staff The body has also and ap
for the novel corona- past 14 days need to first qua- 011-23978046 — and the surve- begun to follow the Unicef ad- should stay away from school and end of school day discouraged perfect attend- functio
virus is a question rantine themselves for two illance team will get in touch visory on Covid-19 care in sc- Schools should Cancel assemblies, sports ance awards and incentives. ble info
that has left several people weeks. If there are no symp- with them,” said an official. hools. The UN body recently enforce regular City schools have already ities an
Wherever possible, place
anxious. Anyone and everyo- toms —fever, dry cough and In Delhi, Ram Manohar issued an advisory to prevent washing of hands begun taking steps. R N Po- trust in
desks at least 1m apart
ne with flu symptoms are see- shortness of breath — during Lohia and Lady Hardinge Me- and control the virus thro- with soap, alcohol dar School principal Avnita
Use e-learning, home study
king to test themselves for Co-
vid-19. To check the panic, In-
this period, tests are not requ-
ired, the guidelines clarified.
dical College hospitals can
collect samples, while testing
ugh instructions, including
social distancing and explo-
sanitizer or chlorine solution
and disinfect surfaces daily
Assign
Bir recently participated in a
webinar on online learning Tour
dia’s top health research bo-
dy, Indian Council of Medical
If someone hasn’t travel-
led to the high-risk nations
facilities are available at AI-
IMS and National Centre for
ring the use of online educa-
tion in case of a shutdown. Schools should provide
remote
follow-
tips for school closures. “We
are working on it. We will use in M
water, sanitation, waste mgmt

I
Research (ICMR), has come but has had contact with an Disease Control. In Mumbai, Listed as part of social up with Google Hangouts/Meets, pre- nad
up with a guideline on who infected individual, even all suspected cases are hand- distancing, the Unicef has re- To promote social distancing students recorded content, Google Cl- conc
should get the test done and then ICMR suggested such led at Kasturba Hospital. If commended that schools can- assroom, Zoom,” said Bir. nati
who shouldn’t. It stated that persons should first home qu- confirmation is required, cel morning assemblies, sp- underway. Most state board said, “Precautions are neces- HVB Global Academy, Mari- heritag
there was currently no com- arantine themselves for two samples are sent to NIV, Pune. orts events and any other ac- schools and junior colleges sary to prevent the potential ne Drive, which does not have have w
munity transmission of the weeks. If they develop symp- There are 51 labs across tivities involving mass gathe- are centres for HSC and SSC spread of Covid-19 in school a break coming up, is equip- cline i
virus in the country. toms during this period, then the country equipped to test ring. The timing, though, has board exams and are calling settings; however, care must ped to use a flipped classroom foreign
“The disease is primarily tests for Covid-19 may be re- for Covid-19. Fifty-six Virus helped most city schools. “In- in younger students only for also be taken to avoid stigma- to teach students remotely. said on
reported in individuals with quired. If a person requires Research and Diagnostic La- ternal exams are over and so half a day. Annual exams for tizing students and staff who A teachers’ union has de- eign tou
travel history to affected co- testing, the ICMR officials sa- boratories (VRDLs) and one are our classes. School will lower classes soon after will may have been exposed to the manded the education depar- sites su
untries or close contacts with id directly visiting a designa- facility at Leh have been de- resume in April,” said Jose require them to come to scho- virus. It is important to re- tment cancel the innovation in Aura
positive cases. Therefore, all ted hospital was not advisab- signated to facilitate sample Kurien, principal, DAV Pub- ol just for a few hours a day. member that Covid-19 does exhibition on March 16 and Raigad