“Top Headlines of the Day”

1. ‘No walk-in’ at PGI OPDs to stay for now

In the wake of increasing Covid-19 cases in the city, the PGI will not restore the outpatient departments (OPDs) to their full capacity for the time being.

The institute had partially restored the physical OPDs to a restricted number of patients for which an appointment through teleconsultation is required. The PGI is a hub of tertiary care medical services in the region and used to witness a daily footfall of around 10,000 patients every day in the OPDs.

“We are totally responsible for the non-Covid services as well. We are catering to patients over the telephone and in case a patient needs immediate attention, they are being called for consultation in person,” said he.

2. 13,783 violators unmasked so far, challaned

So far, 13,783 challans have been issued by the Chandigarh Police to people for not wearing a mask.

With the number of Covid cases rising, the challenging drive has also been intensified. As many as 1,705 challans have already been issued this month in comparison to 1,675 issued in October.

Social distancing: 365 challaned

The police have also issued 365 challans for violating the social distancing norm in the city.

3. Covid surge: Haryana limits social, political gatherings to counter Covid surge

The Haryana government on Tuesday decided to limit the number of persons allowed at social gatherings such as marriages, political or religious functions, in view of the fresh surge in Covid-19 cases in the state.

CM said to contain the spread of the virus, particularly in the six national capital region districts of Gurugram, Rewari, Faridabad, Rohtak, Sonepat and Hisar, gatherings will be restricted to 50 persons in case of indoor events and 100 persons in case of outdoor events.

In the remaining districts, the gathering has been limited to 100 persons for indoor functions and 200 persons for outdoor. These orders will be effective from November 26.

4. How HP lost control over Covid battle

Until October the Covid-19 situation in Himachal Pradesh seemed to be under control with the recovery rate well above 86% and new infections decreasing.

By November, however, things changed and the third wave hit the state.

More than 12,300 cases and 238 fatalities were recorded this month as compared to the previous highest tally of 8,938 cases in September since the outbreak.

The recovery rate also slipped below 80%.

HP now has the highest ratio of active cases in terms of population in the country and also the highest positivity rate.

Four of its districts are among the top 10 in India with the highest infection rate.

5. Light rain likely in Chandigarh

Western disturbances are likely to bring light rain in Chandigarh on Wednesday and Thursday.

According to the India Meteorological Department, up to 10mm rain can be expected, which is likely to lead to a dip in temperature.

While the maximum temperature went down marginally from 22.8°C on Monday to 22.2°C on Tuesday, the minimum temperature rose to 12.3°C from 9.6°C owing to cloudy weather.

In the coming three days, the day temperature is expected to remain between 19 and 24 degrees while the night temperature will remain between 9 to 12 degrees.

6. Mohali plans aggressive Covid testing

The administration has decided to make all-out efforts to increase Covid-19 sampling in the district to detect and control the disease, deputy commissioner (DC) Girish Dayalan said on Tuesday.

Reviewing the status of Covid-19 infections in the district with subdivisional magistrates (SDMs) and senior medical officers of the district, Dayalan said, “testing may be increased twofold with special focus on vulnerable sections coupled with aggressive contact tracing, aiming for least 15 contacts per case.”

The control room would also be strengthened with a requisite staff round the clock to sort out the grievances of the callers.

Strict enforcement measures with respect to compliance with health protocols and advisories were also stressed upon.

7. Soon, all vehicles registered in Chandigarh to pay cow cess

Soon, people may have to pay cow cess even if their vehicle is registered in Chandigarh is purchased from some other state/UT.

A proposal for the same will be submitted before the MC general house meeting scheduled for November 27.

In June, the administration had already started imposing cow fee on vehicles being purchased in the city. But, the Registration and Licensing Authority (RLA), which collects the amount on the behalf of the MC, recently submitted that provision should be made in the cow fee notification allowing the imposition of a fee on vehicles purchased outside the Chandigarh but registered with the RLA here.

In the original order, the mandate is for the imposition of a Rs 500 fee on the four-wheeler and Rs 200 on the two-wheelers purchased in Chandigarh.

The RLA stated that their office is unable to ask any person to deposit a cow fee from a legal point of view in case the vehicle is purchased from outside the city but registered with it. It recommended an amendment in the original cow fee notification.

8. COVID Tally: Chandigarh 70 new cases, 80 in Mohali,14 in Panchkula with 2 deaths in each of these.

Chandigarh: As many as 79 fresh cases of Covid-19 were reported in the city on Tuesday. The UT also witnessed two deaths, taking the toll to 265. As many as 1,128 cases are active.

Mohali: Two more Covid-19 fatalities were witnessed during the past 24 hours in the district, taking the death toll to 269. Meanwhile, 80 fresh cases also surfaced in the district, while three more patients were cured of the disease. There are now 1,471 active cases in the district.

Panchkula: The district witnessed two more Covid fatalities during the past 24 hours, taking the toll to 124, while 14 fresh cases were reported, taking the case tally to 8,396. There are now 465 active cases, while 124 persons have succumbed to the disease.

 

 

Top Headlines of the Day

1. Covid test rates slashed by 25% in Chandigarh

The Chandigarh health department on Monday slashed the rates of Covid-19 testing at private laboratories by 25%.

For the test by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method, the labs will charge ₹900 instead of ₹1,200. For rapid antigen tests, the rates have been fixed at ₹500, down from ₹650. The Haryana government had recently fixed the same rates.

2. Covid: 5 more succumb in Chandigarh Tricity, 293 test +ve

Five people succumbed to Covid-19 while 293 tested positive for the virus in the Tricity on Monday.

At 158, Mohali recorded the maximum cases, followed by 98 in Chandigarh and 37 in Panchkula. Chandigarh witnessed three deaths, while a patient each died in the two neighboring districts.

Of 16,769 positive cases so far, 1,117 remain active. With 119 more patients being discharged, the number of those cured has reached 15,389 (91.8%).

In Mohali, the infection tally has climbed to 14,554, of which 1,395 cases are active.

Of 158 fresh cases, 105 surfaced in Mohali city, 22 in Gharuan, and 12 in Dera Bassi.

As many as 12,892 (88.6%) patients have recovered, including seven discharged on Monday, and 267 have died so far.

With the death of a 71-year-old woman from Sector 16, Panchkula’s toll has risen to 122.

3. Chandigarh may get relief from the cold for 3 days

What may come as a relief, the minimum and maximum temperatures are expected to increase for the next three days in the city. For the next three days, the minimum temperature is expected to hover around 13°C. Also, the maximum temperature, which was 22.8°C today, is expected to increase between 23°C and 24°C for the next three days. Meanwhile, the weather is expected to remain generally cloudy tomorrow, followed by partly cloudy for the next two days.

4. 50 percent drop in attendance at Mohali government schools

In the wake of the spurt in Covid-19 cases in the Mohali district, the attendance of students in government schools has gone down by more than 50 percent.

According to information, about 25 to 28 students were present in a class daily in government schools. After the increase in Covid-19 cases, this number has gone down to 10 to 12 students.

They hoped that the number of students in the school would increase in another few days after coronavirus cases declined, a female teacher said.

The school was also holding online classes for students, who preferred to stay home, she said. They were allowing students to attend classes only after getting due permission from their parents, she added.

5. Railways resume service of 4 pairs of clone special trains

As the protesters in Punjab have lifted their rail blockade, the Railways has restored four pairs of clone special trains originating from or having a halt in Chandigarh.

However, the New Delhi-Kalka Shatabdi train would remain canceled until further orders due to low occupancy.

Ambala Divisional Railway Manager Gurinder Mohan Singh said the New Delhi-Kalka Shatabdi had been canceled as its occupancy level remained around 40 percent.

“We have been reviewing whether to restore or not the New Delhi-Kalka Shatabdi on a weekly basis. The AC train will be restored if its bookings go up,” he said.

6. Chandigarh Housing Board’s Affordable Rental Housing Complex Scheme: Second draw for 448 flats tomorrow

The second draw for allotments of flats to eligible applicants under the Affordable Rental Housing Complex (ARHC) Scheme will be made through computerized draws for 448 flats on November 25 at 11 am.

The Chandigarh administration has decided to relocate the residents of Prefab shelters in Sectors 52 and 56 to EWS flats at Maloya-I.

7. Shipping of grains out of Punjab godowns starts today

With the railways resuming freight and passenger services in Punjab after nearly a two-month hiatus, the authorities concerned will start shipping foodgrains in goods trains from the godowns to other states.

At least 35 rakes (freight trains) are likely to reach various storage points to transport at least 1 lakh tonne wheat and paddy on the first day, it is learned.

8. Infections stabilize after a three-week spike in Haryana

The coronavirus infection spread in Haryana seems to be stabilizing after a big surge for three consecutive weeks, health officials said.

Health department data showed that 17,426 fresh infections were reported from across the state last week (November 16-22) as compared to 17,070 the week before, a small increase of 356 cases.

In comparison, 3,146 more infections were reported during November 9-15 in contrast to the week before (November 2- 8) and 3,348 additional cases were reported during November 2-8 as compared to October 26-November 1.

An all-time high of 17,616 infections was reported in the second week of September. The cases had started declining after that but picked up again during October’s end.

9. Chandigarh urban planning dept to take a final call soon on Sector 39 mandi

The UT urban planning department will take a final call soon on the revised plans submitted to it by the marketing committee for the new grain, vegetable, and fruit market in Sector 39.

The committee modified the plan and drawings prepared by a consultant to ensure that the new market did not have the same bottlenecks as the old grain and vegetable market in Sector 26.

Funds will be allocated for the market once all plans are finalized.

10. Chandigarh MC plans to run gyms at community centers on PPP mode

Having failed to run gyms in community centers for years, the Chandigarh municipal corporation is now all set to rope in private firms to operate and maintain these facilities across the city.

Under this public-private partnership (PPP) plan, “the gyms will be run more professionally, while at the same time, the civic body can generate additional revenue,” said MC commissioner KK Yadav, adding that the firm will operate and maintain the facility and share revenue with the MC on pre-decided terms

At present, there is no uniform policy for running the gyms. In some community centers, the executive committees of area residents have been formed for the purpose, while other ones are without such committees.

Councillor Maheshinder Singh Sidhu, who is a member of the committee, said: “The hired firm will be allowed to charge the same fee as being collected by executive committees currently. For people from outside the sector, the firm can be allowed to charge a higher fee.”

11. Chandigarh colleges reopen to poor attendance

Not many students showed up on Monday as some city colleges reopened for final year classes for the first time after the Covid-19 lockdown.

Some institutes were expected to open after sanitization processes were complete in accordance with safety protocols.

The higher education department last week took a call on reopening the colleges from November 23 for final-year students of undergraduate and postgraduate courses for academic and placement purposes.

However, online classes of all the batches will continue

Top Headlines of the Day

1. Positivity rate rises to 10% post-Diwali

Three days after Diwali, the city today recorded 136 Covid cases, the maximum number of cases recorded in November so far. While the positivity rate stands at 10 percent, the trend is suggestive of the very fact that the second surge of Covid has gripped the city after September.

The last week of October recorded 438 cases with an average of daily cases ranging from 60 to 70. At the onset of November, the Covid cases in Chandigarh started witnessing about a 50 percent rise compared to cases reported in the last week of October.

Positivity rate
Last week of Oct: 6% (438 cases)
Nov first week: 8.5% (658 cases)
Nov second week: 10% (670 cases)

The first week of November recorded 658 cases followed by 670 cases in the second week. The positivity rate also increased from 6 percent in the last week of October to 10 percent this week.

2. Only those fasting for Chhat Puja to be allowed in Chandigarh’s Sector-42 lake: Purvanchal associations

With Chhath Puja slated to start in the city from November 19, some of the Purvanchal associations held a meeting at the Sector-42 lake on Tuesday to discuss how to organize the festival. The meeting was chaired by municipal corporation (MC) councilor Anil Kumar Dubey.

Dubey, who is also the chairman of the Purvanchal Sabha, said, “Only people who will be fasting as per the traditions of the festival will be allowed to come to the Sector-42 lake. Those coming from various villages of Chandigarh will be encouraged to celebrate the festival at their villages.”

Dubey added that there will be no stage performances this year and only tea will be served to the devotees: “People would earlier visit just to see the celebrations. Now, people will be allowed to enter into the water, but they won’t be allowed to bathe in it.”

Masks will be distributed to all and sanitizers will be installed for them to use. The thermal screening will be done at the entry point of the lake.

3. No Chhath Puja in Panchkula

The district administration today denied permission to the registration committee for celebrating the upcoming Chhath Puja on the banks of the Kaushalya and Ghaggar rivers.

Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Kumar Ahuja said the permission was denied due to Covid as 20-25,000 people were expected to visit the river banks. The DC told the Municipal Commissioner to put up hoardings.

4. Refund entire fee amount to parent: Panel to school

No fee amount, including the one paid in advance, can be illegally held back by a school for the period for which no teaching/service is being availed of by a student, stated the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Chandigarh, while directing a private school in Sector 44 to refund the entire fee of a student, who moved to another school of her choice.

No fee amount, including the one paid in advance, can be illegally held back by a school for the period for which no teaching/service is being availed of by a student, stated the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Chandigarh, while directing a private school in Sector 44 to refund the entire fee of a student, who moved to another school of her choice.

5. Chandigarh PGIMER to get India’s first dedicated animal house laboratory with the advanced research facility

The department of radiodiagnosis and imaging at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research is installing the country’s first digital subtraction angiography (DSA) facility dedicated to basic research in animals.

Interventional radiologists use this machine for performing angiography of various organs of the body like the brain, liver, kidneys, etc. The various treatments include opening up of blocked vessels, plugging of leaking vessels, and delivering super-selectively chemotherapy or radiation to the tumor in the affected organ.

Before coming into the market for human use, the drugs and allied equipment have to undergo strict checks initially on animals, followed by human trials in various phases.

Animal DSA installations need a sophisticated setup requiring, in addition to the DSA equipment, the entire infrastructure to house appropriate animals. Expert personnel and conditions are required to take suitable care of the animals and provide them fair living conditions in an ethical humane setup.

Subsequent administration of experimental drugs is undertaken or deployment of new devices is carried out like stents, coils, to understand the changes these lead to in the animals. Sometimes, for evaluating the results, angiographies have to be repeated after a certain interval. The results achieved aid to develop specific therapies for various vascular and parenchymal disorders in human beings. The animals who will be housed at PGIMER include sheep, rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, rats, and hamsters.

6. Chicken, egg prices up as supply runs short in Chandigarh

Chicken and egg prices are up in the city with the advent of the festive season and the winter even as supplies being affected after the lockdown due to Covid-19.

Broilers, which were priced at Rs 180 to Rs 190 per kg, are now selling for Rs 240 per kg; and the cost of an egg has gone up from Rs 5 to Rs 7 in the past few weeks.

Interestingly, fish and mutton prices are not fluctuating much. “Fish and mutton are associated with the wedding season that normally picks up around this time. However, demand is low this year. More people prefer chicken as it can be cooked easily at home,” Tejinder Singh Chawla, proprietor of the Sector 46 Chawla’s Chicken outlet explained.

Singhara fish is selling for Rs 650 per kg and mutton for Rs 600 per kg.

7. Chandigarh employees’ hopes to own house dashed again

Even after a decade, there is no respite for 3,930 UT employees who were selected by lot for the UT’s employees’ self-finance housing scheme. Following the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the UT Administration held a meeting with a delegation of the employees who are to get flats under the scheme, but it again disappointed the latter for they were offered prices with a very marginal reduction.

When the scheme was announced in 2008, the rate of a one-room flat (EWS category) was Rs5.76 lakh, but it was today offered for a whopping Rs48 lakh-Rs54 lakh, that too in an 11-story building. Three BHK, which was priced at Rs34.70 lakh, was today offered for a staggering Rs1.51crore-Rs1.69 crore.

“It is their mistake that they did not build flats under the 2008 scheme and inordinately delayed the matter without any reason. Thus, we want the same 2008 rates as employees cannot afford the increased cost of the flats. The authorities should treat it as a special case, not as a general housing scheme. They can give flats on throwaway prices eyeing a particular vote bank, but are doing injustice with their own employees,” said a group of employees.

8. 136 new cases in Chandigarh, two more die

The city on Tuesday recorded 136 new cases of Covid-19 and two deaths. A 61-year-old man from Dadu Majra, who was suffering from acute respiratory disease, died at the PGI and a 77-year-old man from Sector 44, who was suffering from diabetes, hypertension, and chronic heart disease, breathed his last at Ace Heart Hospital, Mohali

9. 4 deaths, 84 fresh infections in Mohali

Four fatalities due to Covid were reported from the district while 84 fresh cases surfaced till Tuesday evening. The district tally stands at 13,762 and the toll 259. So far, 12,444 patients have recovered from the disease. There are 1,059 active cases in the district

10. 83 test positive in Panchkula, no fatality

As many as 83 new cases of Covid surfaced in the Panchkula district during the past 24 hours. No fresh fatality was reported till Tuesday. The district has reported 7,461 recoveries so far. There are 442 active cases. The virus has claimed 119 lives.

Top Headlines of the Day

1. Rain gain for Chandigarh’s air quality

The rain late last evening improved the air quality of the city drastically, bringing it to the “good to satisfactory” level.

In the past 24 hours, the air quality index (AQI) was between 40 and 55 — as recorded at the real-time monitoring station in Sector 25. On Diwali, it was 140, while last year on the festival, it was 341.

“Due to rain and a ban on crackers, the AQI dropped to 55 in 24 hours. It is the lowest AQI recorded after the lockdown when it had dropped to 25. However, such a low AQI has not been recorded during the festive season since 2011 when we first started evaluating it at the Sector 25 station,” said Ravindra Khaiwal, Additional Professor of Environment Health, Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGI.

The AQI value was 25 in March-end and early-April when the lockdown was imposed across the country. The region did not witness rain for the past two months. So, the AQI was moderate.

2. Panchkula Fire Department lacks firepower

The fire that ravaged around 80 jhuggis in Saketri village has brought to the fore shortcomings in the Panchkula Fire Department, affecting fire operations and emergency response, with fresh allegations of reaching the spot late and limited machinery.

Even though the department has denied the charge of responding late, officials admitted that they lacked adequate fire engines and machinery for a population of around six lakh. “On Diwali, we had deployed fire engines at several spots across the city to meet any eventuality in time. Had these been stationed at the Sector 5 station, it would have taken lesser time,” an official of the department said.

Officials said the biggest concern for the department was the shortage of staff.

Against the required strength of 48, the department has manpower of just 32 — facing a crunch of 16.

3. Corridors, wards overflow with trash as sanitation workers strike for Diwali bonus at Chandigarh’s GMCH

The corridors and wards of the Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector 32 on Monday wore a picture of gross neglect as the 300-odd sanitation workers, who have been hired through a contractor, went on a strike demanding the grant of Diwali bonus.

Till Monday evening, the floors had not been cleaned and the garbage was not picked for more than 12 hours.

‘Bonus not granted first time in a decade’

Om Kailash, the chairman of the GMCH-32 Safai Karamchari Union, said it was only three days ago that they were told that the Diwali bonus will not be granted. “The bonus amount had never been suspended in the last decade,” he said.

5. Amid rising Covid cases in Chandigarh, museums, Rock Garden thrown open

Having remained out of bounds for nearly eight months, Rock Garden, Tagore Theatre, and various government museums will be reopened for the public from Tuesday.

These were closed off in March in the wake of the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. Except for the Rock Garden, which is expected to be opened on Thursday, the other centers will be accessible from Tuesday.

What’s open

• Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10
• Natural History Museum, Sector 10
• Chandigarh Architecture Museum, Sector 10
• Rock Garden, Sector 1
• Capitol Complex, Sector 1
• International Doll Museum, Sector 23
• Le Corbusier Centre, Sector 19
• Tagore Theatre, Sector 18
• Museum Maison Jeanneret, Sector 5

Protocols enforced

• Social distancing
• Face mask mandatory at all times
• Sanitization of premises on a regular basis
• Availability of hand sanitizers
• Use of audio guides to be suspended
• Elevator operation to be limited
• Use of touch-based technology to be limited
• Digital payments advised for purchase of entry tickets
• Floor markers for social distancing
• UV sanitization boxes at counters for tickets and cash
• Temperature screening of all visitors.

6. Chandigarh sees 82 fresh cases, 2 deaths

The city today recorded 82 fresh cases of Covid-19, taking the tally to 15,886. Two more deaths were reported, taking the toll to 150. As many as 116 patients were discharged today. The total number of patients cured is 14,584 and the city has 1,052 active cases

7. Panchkula reports 53 cases, 2 deaths

As many as 53 fresh Covid cases were reported from the district in the past 24 hours, taking the tally to 7,939. While 7,388 patients have recovered from the disease so far, 432 cases are still active

8. 104 new cases, one fatality in Mohali district

One more fatality was witnessed due to Covid in the district during the past 24 hours, taking the toll to 255. As many as 104 fresh cases were reported, taking the tally to 13,678, while 57 more patients were cured of the disease. Among the fresh cases, 86 were reported from Mohali (urban), 11 from Dhakoli, six from Gharuan, and one from Kharar.

9. Rising Covid cases suggest a rebound in Tricity: Experts

Medical experts have warned that with the number of cases increasing in the Tricity, the second wave is proving to be more severe than the first one and there is a need to take all precautions.

“Winter, anyways, is known to be harsh and unforgiving for the elderly. This winter is going to be especially risky for those with compromised health. Staying indoors in enclosed spaces is very likely to enhance virus transmission from one person to another. The only thing that can work in the stage of community transmission is community action, each individual’s action,” said Dr. Chawla, Fortis Hospital

Preventing the second peak will therefore need individual and family responsibility with the mantra being “Self-protection, self-isolation, and reverse-quarantine”, she added.

10. Virus spread in Haryana again nears peak levels

The coronavirus infection trajectory in Haryana continued its renewed escalation for the third week in a row with the state reporting 3,146 more infections last week (November 9-15) in contrast to the week before. With 17,070 fresh cases last week, the virus spread is close to the all-time high of 17,616 infections reported in the second week of September when the virus spread had hit its peak in the state.

After a four-week drop, a fresh increase in cases during the festivities started in October end when 10,576 infections were reported between October 26 and November 1 followed by 13,924 the next week (November 2-8).

11. PGI finds abnormal liver profile in Covid-19 patients

In what may be a lesser-known fact to many, researchers at the PGI have found that more than half of patients admitted to the hospital with SARS-CoV-2 infection had an abnormal liver function.

The PGI evaluated the liver function test results and inflammatory marker levels along with the medical history obtained from 170 adult patients of both genders with confirmed Covid-19 from March 15 to June 15. All Covid-19 positive patients of 15 years of age and above were included in the study. Patients suffering from chronic liver diseases, alcoholism, hepatitis, pregnant women, and children (below 15 years) were excluded from the study.

Key findings

• Of 152 Covid-19 positive patients, 89 (58.5%) had abnormal liver tests, of which 43 (48.31%) had a liver injury during hospitalization
• Severity in terms of ICU requirement was more pronounced in patients with raised liver enzymes and liver injury
• Elderly patients had a preponderance towards severe liver injury
• SARS-CoV-2 may possibly cause liver damage

 

 

Top Headlines of the Day

1. 699 cops to keep a check on firecracker ban violators

As many as 699 cops, including three DSPs and 25 inspectors, will patrol markets as well as residential areas to check violation of the firecracker ban.

A spokesperson for the Chandigarh Police, DSP Charanjit Singh Virk, said staff from all police stations would patrol the city areas to ensure that people followed the UT order against the bursting of crackers. “People can also report the violation to the police on 112,” said the DSP.

Any violation of the ban will invite penal action under Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under Section 188 of the IPC.

 

2. Weekly Covid death count in city jumps over three times

The number of Covid deaths reported in a week has increased by over three times in the city. While 16 persons died of Covid from November 7 to 13, only five fatalities were reported during the week ending November 6.

Dr. Rajesh Kumar, former head of the Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGI, said, “The trend of increased fatalities indicates that the virus is spreading in the community. There has been an increase in the hospitalization of Covid patients as well. The cases are expected to rise more in the next two weeks. The next two months will be crucial for us to avoid the second peak.” The fatality rate of Chandigarh is currently 1.5 percent.

Active cases rise by 69%

After witnessing a decline in the number of active cases, the city has again started recording upsurge of inactive infections lately. From 593 on November 2, the number of active cases has increased to 1,009, which is an increase of 69 percent.

 

3. Gold loses sheen this Dhanteras, sales dip

Lockdown has had its impact on gold sales this Dhanteras. City jewelers have witnessed nearly 10-20 percent drop in the sales this year in comparison to last year.

Dhanteras is considered the most auspicious day in the Hindu calendar for buying items ranging from gold and silver to utensils.

Last year, around Rs 5 crore worth of gold and silver was sold on Dhanteras while this year the sales were expected to be nearly Rs 4.5 crore, said a member of the association.

4. 124 new cases logged in Mohali

As many as 124 new cases of Covid-19 surfaced in the district during the past 24 hours, taking the total tally to 13,435. No fatality was reported from the district till Friday evening. Among the new cases, 89 came from Mohali (urban), nine each from Dera Bassi and Gharuan, seven from Dhakoli, four from Kharar, two each from Lalru and Kurali and one each from Banur and Boothgarh.

Meanwhile, 27 more patients were cured of the disease. There are 996 active cases in the district.

5. 1,500 vacancies to be filled in Revenue Department

The Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board (PSSSB) has given its approval to fill more than 1,500 vacant posts in the Revenue Department. Raman Bahl, Chairman, Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board (PSSSB), said, “The board has also given approval to start the recruitment process for the 443 posts of junior draftsman in various departments and 1,090 posts of patwari in the Revenue Department.”

“An advertisement in this regard will be issued soon. The board has also invited applications for the recruitment of Assistant Superintendent of Jails. Candidates can apply online from November 16 to December 7. The last date to deposit fee is December 10,” he added.

“For the convenience of candidates, the syllabus of the examination for the post of Assistant Superintendent of Jail has been uploaded on the board’s website,” he added.

6. Covid cases continue to surge for the second consecutive week in Chandigarh

Incidence of coronavirus infection continues to rise in Chandigarh for the second consecutive week with the Union Territory reporting 749 more cases last week (November 6 to 12) as compared to the preceding week.

As many as 502 infections were reported between October 30 and November 5.

UT health officials attributed the increase to people not adhering to safety norms by intermingling in crowds, majorly in market areas, and extensive movement due to festivals

The surge in cases is also coupled with an increase in the number of fatalities, as per official records. Last week, 15 deaths were reported as compared to four a week before. The fatality rate has, however, been around 1.5%-1.6% in the last one month.

7. 257 test positive in Tricity, two dead in Chandigarh

 

The tricity reported 257 Covid-19 cases on Friday, with Chandigarh also confirming two deaths, while Mohali and Panchkula had none.

Mohali led with 124 cases, followed by Chandigarh with 93 and Panchkula with 40.

With 93 new cases and two casualties, Chandigarh’s case tally rose to 15,636 and death toll to 246. The number of active cases, at 1,008, remained above 1,000 for the second consecutive day.

 

Top Headlines of the Day

1. Cracker ban to stay in Chandigarh

The ban on firecrackers will continue without any relaxation, the Chandigarh administration decided on Thursday.

Rejecting the review representation made by a city-based traders’ association, UT adviser Manoj Parida said the order issued on November 6 under the Disaster Management Act, banning the sale and use of firecrackers in the city, needs no modification or relaxation.

However, Parida said that while conducting the draw of lots, it had been “clarified categorically that the allotment will be subject to a final decision by the UT administration regarding the imposition of any ban on crackers”.

“The applicants (association) were specifically asked not to go for advance purchase of crackers until November 6. A letter was also written to the president, Chandigarh Cracker Dealer Association, on November 5, stating that the purchase of crackers should be kept on hold,” the adviser said in his order.

2. Chances of light rain in Chandigarh from November 15

After no rain was witnessed in the city since the end of August, India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials are predicting light rain in the city on Sunday and Monday.

The maximum temperature in the city fell down from 29.3 degrees on Wednesday to 28.8 degrees on Thursday. The minimum temperature went down from 13.1 degrees on Wednesday to 11.8 degrees on Thursday. In the next three days, the maximum temperature will remain between 28 and 26 degrees while the minimum temperature will remain between 12 and 13 degrees.

3. Chandigarh seeks Centre’s nod for second medical college

The Chandigarh health department has submitted a fresh detailed project report to the central government for establishing a new undergraduate medical college in the city.

Approval has been sought from the ministry of health and family welfare for a medical college with 100 MBBS seats, associated with the 500-bed Government Multi Speciality Hospital, Sector 16, officials privy to the development said.

The city currently has only 150 MBBS seats offered by Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, which also has 125 seats for postgraduate programs. The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research offers only postgraduate programs with around 310 seats.

4. Made by inmates, colorful candles up for grabs

Besides mouth-watering sweets, gel and wax candles made by inmates of the Burial jail are up for grabs at Srijan, the exclusive jail store in Sector 22, this Diwali.

These products will be sold at stalls, which will come up at Sukhna Lake, the Sector 18 market, and outside the RLA office in Sector 17 – said, Virat, The AIG (Prisons)

5. Chandigarh can host domestic games comfortably amid pandemic, says UTCA official

Having hosted a number of under-19, under-23, and Ranji Trophy matches successfully last season, the UT Cricket Association (UTCA) is keen on organizing games in the upcoming domestic season as well, by making a bio-bubble.

The domestic season was postponed owing to the outbreak. It was earlier slated to get underway in September, but now the BCCI president has said in an interview that it will be held in January 2021.

A meeting in the runup to the domestic season will be held after Diwali. Chandigarh had received BCCI affiliation last season and several of its men and women teams had also qualified to the Elite group from the Plate group.

6. Annual Chandigarh Bird Club survey: 429 migratory waterfowls spotted in and around Sukhna Lake

The Chandigarh Bird Club has identified 34 species of waterfowl and 43 species of arboreal birds in a survey conducted on Thursday at Sukhna Lake and surrounding areas.

As per the survey, which is conducted strictly between 7 am to 10 am, 429 waterfowls were identified. Of these, the most common species was the Ruddy Shelduck with 141 sightings followed by 47 sightings of the Great Cormorant and 40 of Indian Spot-Billed Duck.

7. Chandigarh’s active Covid count goes past 1,000 again

After nearly a month, the number of active Covid-19 cases in Chandigarh crossed the 1,000 marks once again on Thursday.

Following a surge, active cases had shot up to 3,171 on September 16. The pandemic hit a plateau the following month, and active cases dropped below 1,000 in mid-October. As the number of recoveries remained higher than in fresh cases, the number of active cases reached 593 on November 2, before starting to rise again.

Meanwhile, the death toll increased to 244

8. 109 new cases, 1 death in Chandigarh

The city today reported 109 fresh Covid cases, taking the case tally to 15,543. It also saw a Covid death. A 74-year-old woman from Mani Majra, who was also suffering from jaundice, died at the PGI. As many as 64 patients recovered from the disease in the past 24 hours

9. In Mohali, active cases up 49% in 8 days

Mohali district witnessed a 49 percent increase in active cases in the past eight days. From 550 on November 3, the number of active cases rose to 822 yesterday. So far, 13,311 cases have surfaced in the district and 12,159 patients have been cured. There are 899 active cases with 253 deaths in the district.

10. Panchkula sees no death in 6 days

The district today reported 72 fresh cases, taking the infection count to 7,783. No fresh death due to the virus was reported. The recovery rate of the district stands at 91.9 percent.

Even though the daily cases are on the rise, the district has witnessed no Covid death in the past six days.

Top Headlines of the Day

1. Burst crackers in Chandigarh and land in jail for up to 2 years

This Diwali abstains from bursting crackers or is ready to face up to two-year imprisonment as the Chandigarh administration has decided to invoke the Disaster Management Act 2005 against violators.

There is no relaxation. So clear instructions have been passed to station house officers to ensure strict compliance. Anyone caught selling or bursting crackers will be booked under Section 188 (for non-compliance of prohibitory order) of the Indian Penal Code and action will also be taken under the relevant section of the Disaster Management Act,” said Kuldeep Singh Chahal, senior superintendent of police, Chandigarh.

Though the offense is bailable, provisions under the Disaster Management Act are stricter as compared to Section 188 of the IPC, which carries maximum jail of only three months.

2. 2-hours window to burst green crackers in Punjab

The Punjab Government today announced a two-hour window for the use of green firecrackers on Diwali and Gurpurb across the state, barring Mandi Gobindgarh town. The fireworks timing has been restricted to 35 minutes on Christmas Eve in the state.

A complete ban has been imposed in the industrial town of Mandi Gobindgarh from November 9-10 to November 30-December 1 midnight on account of its poor air quality index (AQI) levels.

Four major towns — Amritsar, Jalandhar, Khanna, and Ludhiana — that fall in the “poor” air quality category classified by the NGT have been spared from a total ban, as per the orders issued by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today.

3. Allotment of flats in Chandigarh: Draw streamed on YouTube

To ensure that social distancing is maintained, the CHB live-telecast the draw for the allotment of flats in Maloya. The UT Administration has decided to relocate the residents of pre-fab shelters in Sector 52 and 56 to EWS flats at Maloya-I under the Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHCs) scheme.

“For the first time, the draw was streamed live at the site of beneficiaries and on their mobile phones or computers through YouTube,” the CEO.

Garg said physical possession of the flats in Maloya-I would be handed over from November 17 in a staggered manner to avoid the rush and to ensure compliance with the social distancing norms

4. Amid Covid, demand for flu shots shoots up 30% in Tricity

While the wait for a Covid-19 vaccine continues, the demand for seasonal flu shots have risen among Tricity residents to protect themselves from other respiratory illnesses. There has been a 30 percent spurt in the demand for flu shots, according to private medical practitioners in the Tricity.

The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention recently stated, “Getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever during 2020-2021 to protect yourself and the people around you from flu, and to help reduce the strain on healthcare systems responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.”

5. Covid-19: Virus kills four more in Chandigarh

The city today witnessed 90 cases of Covid-19 and four deaths, taking the tally to 15,339 and the virus toll to 241.

The city also witnessed 66 recoveries, pushing the count of cured patients to 14,176. There are now 922 active cases in the city. As many as 1,440 samples were collected in the past 24 hours.

6. Covid-19: 70 more test positive in Panchkula

Seventy more cases of Covid surfaced in the district during the past 24 hours, taking the tally to 7,644. No new fatality was reported from the district till Tuesday evening. The district has seen 7,085 patients being cured.

7. Covid-19: Two more dies in Mohali, toll 250

Two more fatalities due to Covid-19 were reported from the district during the past 24 hours, taking the total number of deaths in the district to 250. The district also reported 75 fresh cases. The number of infections has increased to 13,060. Meanwhile, 45 patients have been cured.