Top Headlines of the Day

1. 700 turns up at PGI as OPDs resume

The OPDs resumed today after six months in which around 700 patients reported at the PGI and 1,200 patients consulted doctors through the telephone.

Dr. Naveen Pandey, “In the coming week, if Covid cases do not rise, we may start seeing more patients beyond the cap of 50 in each OPD. However, if the second surge hits, we may have to curtail the services.”

2. 2 deaths, 14 new cases in Panchkula

The district today reported two deaths and 14 coronavirus cases, taking the case count to 7,187 and the toll to 116. Among the fresh cases, four were reported from Pinjore, two from Sector 6, and one from Kalka, Morni, Sector 11, Sector 12, Sector 12-A, Sector 17, Sector 19 and Sector 4. While 6,862 patients have been cured so far, 209 cases are still active. The recovery rate of the district stands at 95.47 percent.

3. Mohali sees 27 cases, no death

The district reported 27 new Covid cases during the past 24 hours, taking the case tally to 12,467. No death due to the virus was reported, while 57 patients recovered from the disease. Among the fresh cases, 20 were reported from Mohali (urban), four from Dera Bassi, two from Gharuan, and one from Kurali.

4. Badnore cautions against a second surge

UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore has appealed to residents to strictly follow the Covid-19 guidelines. “Chandigarh must avoid a second surge at all cost,” he said while presiding over a review meeting on the pandemic.

Though the UT has witnessed a sharp decline in coronavirus cases in recent weeks, experts fear a second wave ahead of the winter season.

Badnore said doctors had opined that toxic air arising out of crackers was likely to affect the lungs and, hence, Chandigarh residents should avoid or minimize bursting of crackers during the festival season. “There is a need to keep Chandigarh pollution-free so that there is no resurgence of lung diseases or Covid cases,” he said.

5. Social distancing on the mind, Chandigarh ups cracker sites to 14

In order to maintain social distancing, the UT Administration has decided to increase the number of designated sites for selling firecrackers to 14 in the city this year. Last year, firecrackers were allowed to sell only at nine designated sites. The UT Administration will give temporary licenses only to 96 persons to sell firecrackers. The draw for allotment of the licenses will be held tomorrow. No one would be allowed to sell crackers in the shops due to safety issues.

The official said shopkeepers would not be allowed to put up firecracker stalls in markets. They would be allowed to do business nearly 200m to 300m away from the markets. The licenses would be given as per the directions of the High Court and the Administration would give licenses to sell firecrackers only on November 12, 13, and 14 in the city.

6. Multiplexes to open with 50 pc capacity in Mohali

The Mohali Administration has allowed the opening of cinemas/theatres/multiplexes with up to 50 percent capacity. Entertainment parks and similar places in areas outside the containment zones have also been allowed to reopen.

District Magistrate Girish Dayalan has allowed more activities in areas outside the containment zones from November 1 to November 30. The orders have been issued in continuation with the directions of the Department of Home, Punjab, as per the SOPs issued by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Similarly, entertainment parks and similar places in areas outside the containment zones can also open as per the SOPs issued by the ministry.

7. Mohali MC gets machines for cleaning choked sewers

In order to clear the choked sewers in the city, the Municipal Corporation has bought two sewer suction-cum-jetting machines and a mini super suction machine at a cost of Rs 1. 45 crores. Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu flagged off these machines to the Phase 5 market to clear the choked sewers. Earlier, a machine was procured with funds from his discretionary quota for the pruning of trees at a cost of Rs 35 lakh. The MC is going to purchase two more such machines, he added.

8. Attendance doubles after regular classes resume at UT government schools

Attendance in Chandigarh government schools has doubled after regular classes resumed for Class 9 onwards on Monday, with 3,288 students showing up on the first day.

As per data shared by the UT education department, 1,525 students of Class 10 and 501 of Class 12 attended their classes in the first shift, while 922 students of Class 9 and 340 of Class 11 were present across 93 government high schools and model senior secondary schools of the city.