Top Headlines of the day

1. Going by R-value, pandemic seems under control in the region 

R-value, which refers to the reproduction number at which Covid-19 or any other infection spreads, has remained below one for a long in the region

 Dropping off the R-value below one suggests a decline in the spread as it indicates the average number of people who might catch an infection from an already infected person.

Punjab appears to be doing better as the R-value remained consistently low for the last month. 

2. Free Covid testing camp at Sec 22 market

A special drive was conducted to spread awareness on the measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 because of the upcoming festive season.

A special camp for free on-the-spot Covid-19 testing was held at Kiran Cinema Market, Sector 22. Customers, shop owners, and workers got themselves tested for free.

The UT Administration, with the help of the Market Association of Sector 22, conducted various awareness activities in the market. Public announcements explaining the importance of social distancing were made by traffic police personnel. Sanitizers were placed in front of all shop and masks were distributed

3. Chandigarh extends Unlock 5.0 guidelines till November 30

UT Adviser Manoj Parida said the guidelines for reopening issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on September 30 would remain in force in the city till November 30.

In an order yesterday, the MHA stated that there would be no change in the existing guidelines. However, the lockdown will continue to be implemented in containment zones till November 30.

Meanwhile, the UT Administration today declared three Covid-affected areas as micro-containment zones. House number 3410 to 3420 in Sector 15, house number 501 to 508 in Sector 26 (Police Lines), and house number 755 to 769 in Sector 44-A have been declared as micro-containment zones.

4. Chandigarh schools reopening on November 2 to follow staggered timings

Schools in Chandigarh have been asked to follow staggered timings for Classes 9 to 12 as they prepare to reopen for regular teaching from November 2.

In the directions issued by the district education officer (DEO) to the heads of schools on Wednesday, students of Classes 10 and 12 will attend school from 9 am to 11.30 am, while those of Classes 9 and 11 from 12 pm to 2.30 pm.

This is only for students voluntarily wishing to attend school while adhering to the standard operating procedures (SOPs), while others will continue to take online classes.

Written consent of parents to send their wards to schools will be taken by schools before or on the day of reopening and it will be valid unless withdrawn by parents. School heads have been directed to prepare a schedule to enable teachers to take both online and offline classes from school.

5. PU issues SOPs for hostels, no night-outs for residents

According to the SoPs issued, no resident will be allowed for night outs or go out of the campus between 8 pm to 6 am. Moreover, Residents won’t be allowed to call visitors to the hostel. No residents will be allowed in the common rooms or switch on the AC. 

Mess workers will also be monitored. The contractors will prepare a daily health bulletin of workers and submit the same to the warden every day before 5 pm. Vegetables to be cleaned with vinegar, salt, and lukewarm water. Milk packets will be washed with soap before opening. 

6. App to make wildlife rescue quicker launched in Chandigarh

For the rescue of wildlife entering human habitation or in distress, residents will now be able to approach the UT forest department through a mobile app.

“Through this app, timely dissemination of information to the authorities concerned is possible regarding injured and distressed wild animals in the city. The location of the incident can also be directly communicated, thereby making it easier and faster for the department to react to such calls,” said Debendra Dalai, UT chief conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden.

The link to the app is also available on the department’s website www.chandigarhforest.gov.in.

7. Panchkula Sector 7 community center in a shambles

The building of the community center in Sector 7 here is in shambles and may collapse at any time, posing a threat to the life of children, who often play around it.

Residents said the walls of the building were damp and had developed cracks. They said the authorities were not taking the matter seriously.

8. Chandigarh, Himachal, Punjab have the best air pollution monitoring in India

Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab were the only ones among 23 states and union territories listed in the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) to have above-average readings in the past three years for PM 10, an analysis of the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme tracking has said. 

The list shows Punjab has an average PM 10 reading of 133 over the last three years. Himachal Pradesh stands at 125, and Chandigarh at 102.

This does not necessarily mean that pollution levels have gone down in these states pollution levels in all three continue to be much higher than acceptable CPCB norms and way above the WHO limits of 10 micrograms/cubic meter. What these rankings seem to indicate is a trend in air pollution in Chandigarh, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh, and that all three monitor them better than other states in the country.