Bengaluru Sunday curfew: Essential services to operate, restaurants open for home delivery

Coronavirus

However, the police are urging restaurants and grocers to shut shops if they want to remain closed on Sunday.

TNM Staff

Representation photo

The Bengaluru Police has issued a strict warning against those who come out of their homes and violate the curfew, which will begin at 8pm on Saturday and continue till 5am on Monday.  Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao urged residents of the city to “stay at home and break the chain.” “We have not imposed an extended lockdown as it will hurt many people. This is just  for one day of the week. It will be exactly like lockdown in March and April but only for one day of the week. People cannot say they do their shopping on Sunday and want to step outside. Stepping outside must be avoided until absolutely necessary,” Bhaskar Rao said.  He further stated that restaurant and grocery store owners can voluntarily shut their shops during the curfew. "We are urging them to close voluntarily on Sunday. People can stock essentials on Saturday and remain at home," he added. The curfew will begin at 8pm on Saturday and continue till 5pm on Monday of every week till August 2. Essential services will be open. Grocery stores, kirana shops, newspaper delivery and restaurants will be open only for home delivery. Bars and pubs will be closed, theatres, shopping malls and other commercial establishments apart from essential services will remain shut during the curfew.  “People should stay at home and even avoid going to the grocery stores. They can stock up on Saturday. We are imposing this curfew for their own good and people should cooperate. Dunzo and Swiggy services will be available but people must refrain from using it as much as possible. Let’s stay at home and break the chain,” Bhaskar Rao added.  He further stated that police personnel would be deployed at every major junction and main road, just like Lockdown 1.0 in March and April. He further stated that vehicles of those who come out during the curfew would be seized and the violators will be booked under Disaster Management Act 2005.  “Even if people have to come out for emergencies like going to the hospital, they should wear masks and gloves. We are only urging people to adhere to our request as it is for their own good,” he added.   

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/3ivGzfN
via IFTTT

Karnataka HC expunges judge's controversial remarks in rape case

Court

Justice Krishna Dixit had stated that it is unbecoming of Indian women to fall asleep after rape. The observation earned him severe flak.

TNM Staff

The Karnataka High Court’s Justice Krishna S Dixit on Friday expunged his observations made in a bail order in a rape case after the state government filed a petition requesting the same while stating that the court’s observation would affect the probe adversely. Justice Krishna Dixit had observed in a bail order granted on June 17 that it was “unbecoming of a woman to fall asleep after rape”. Justice Krishna Dixit was hearing a rape case of a 42-year-old HR manager, where the woman is said to have fallen asleep after the incident of rape occurred. The woman had filed a complaint with the Rajarajeshwari Nagar Police and an FIR was registered under sections 376 (rape), 420 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code as well as Section 66-B of Information Technology Act 2000. “The explanation offered by the complainant that after the perpetration of the act she was tired and fell asleep, is unbecoming of an Indian woman; that is not the way our women react when they are ravished,” Justice Krishna Dixit had observed.  His remark had drawn criticism from lawyers, activists and journalists across the country. The state government later filed a petition requesting that the four sentences in the bail order be expunged as it could adversely affect the investigation.  “Taking note of the contents of respondent-State’s application which is supported by the accompanying affidavit and also the No Objection tendered by the petitioner-accused thereto, I deem it appropriate to expunge the last four lines occurring in para No. 3(c) at page 4 of the subject judgment dated 22-06-2020, as sought for at para 5 of the said Application, the rest having been retained intact,” Deccan Herald quoted Justice Krishna Dixit’s order passed on Friday.  According to TOI, Justice Krishna Dixit also observed on Friday that his earlier observation in that bail order would not affect the investigation in any way.  “It hardly needs to be stated that the observations made by this court in the subject judgment being confined to consideration and disposal of the bail petition shall not influence in any way investigation of the offences alleged and the likely trial thereof,” TOI quoted Justice Krishna as saying. Read: ‘Narrow, patriarchal’: Open letter criticises Karnataka HC judge’s observations on rape

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/3gsZ6I7
via IFTTT

Bengaluru man with COVID-19 dies on road after waiting hours for ambulance

Coronavirus

The incident took place in Hanumantha Nagar in South Bengaluru.

TNM Staff

A 65-year-old man, who tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Friday, collapsed and died on the road outside his house while he was waiting for an ambulance to arrive.  Speaking to TNM, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Commissioner BH Anil Kumar said that the man, who was a resident of Hanumanatha Nagar in South Bengaluru, was walking from his home to the end of the road, where an ambulance was waiting when he collapsed and breathed his last.  #bengaluru #bengalurumodel#KarnatakaCovidHorror Man who tested #COVID19India positive calls up ambulance. Comes out with his clothes to get admitted. Even after three hours ambulance doesn't come. He collapse due to breathlessness and die. @Nithya_Mandyam @shreyas_ToI pic.twitter.com/AUTM8KNb3h — Kiran Parashar (@KiranParashar21) July 3, 2020 "The man got his test results on Friday morning. His family had been trying to arrange for a private ambulance since noon on Friday. He had packed all his clothes and was waiting inside the house. But the ambulance was not available. BBMP received a call by 3.45 pm. Around 6 pm, his family was able to arrange for an ambulance. The ambulance arrived at the end of his street by 7 pm," BBMP Commissioner BH Anil Kumar said. BBMP officials claim that the man wanted to walk to the end of the road and board the ambulance as he did not want the vehicle to come near his house. “He was scared of what his neighbours would say and what they would talk about his family if they found out that he had COVID-19,” a senior BBMP official said.  BBMP officials say that the man may have suffered a cardiac arrest while he was walking towards the ambulance. A passerby was the first one to rush to the man’s rescue, who is now a primary contact, TOI reported.  Anil Kumar said that the spot inspection was done by the police within an hour of the man’s death. His body was taken to Victoria Hospital and an autopsy is slated to take place on Saturday morning, before being buried as per the COVID-19 burial protocol.  “It was a miscommunication due to which the ambulance did not reach the spot on time. Action will be taken against those found guilty of lapse in this case,” Anil Kumar added.   

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/3gvzWIV
via IFTTT

Bengaluru reports 994 new COVID-19 cases in highest single day spike

Coronavirus

Karnataka also recorded 21 new deaths due to COVID-19.

Alithea Stephanie Mounika

PTI/New Delhi

Karnataka reported a total of 1,694 new COVID-19 patients on Friday, taking the state’s tally of active cases to 10,608. The state for the first time, has surpassed 10,000 active cases. Karnataka has so far reported a total of 19,710 cases. Bengaluru Urban reported 994 new cases on Friday, the highest on a single day. The number of patients currently being treated in the state capital is 6,297. The source of infection in most of these cases are yet to be traced.  Meanwhile, Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), the city bus service stated that the total active cases amongst their staff is 36, as of the latest information on Friday evening. Other districts all reported less than 100 cases each. Ballari and Dakshina Kannada each reported 97 new cases. Kalaburagi reported 72 new COVID-19 cases, and Tumakuru reported 57 patients. Bengaluru Rural for the first time reported a relatively large number of cases for the district, reporting 44 new patients and taking the total active cases in the district to 156. In Dharwada, 38 new patients tested positive for the novel coronavirus, while Mysuru reported 35 cases and Mandya 33. Other districts reported cases less than 30 each. As per the bulletin, 471 patients were discharged on Friday, taking the total discharges in the state to 8,805 patients who recovered from the virus. Bengaluru reported the highest number of discharges, at 121. Karnataka also reported 21 new deaths due to COVID-19. This takes the death toll in Karnataka to 293. Bengaluru Urban reported 5 deaths. Chikkaballapur and Kalaburagi saw 3 deaths each. Vijayapura reported 2 people succumbing to the virus. Raichuru, Bidar, Davangere, Hassana, and Shivamogga each reported one death. Also Read: Dakshina Kannada cops divide duties as COVID-19 cases among cops rise

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/3ioNEim
via IFTTT

Cycling the new normal in Bengaluru, sales shoot up after lockdown

Cycling

Activists who have been urging fellow citizens to take up cycling too say that they are pleased with the development.

Alithea Stephanie Mounika

Pic: Padma Naveen

Pointing to a surge in the demand for bicycles, several shops in Bengaluru are reporting a shortage of cycles. Residents wanting to shift to the healthier form of transport are finding that most models of bicycles are sold out at many of the city’s cycle retailers. Meghana Ranjith, a resident of the city who lives in KR Puram, says that she recently took up cycling to ensure she stays fit. “When you’re staying at home all the time, health issues crop up, like back pain, stress and even lethargy. When you cycle early in the morning, your body feels fresh and you feel active,” she says.  Meghana says she found it hard to find one. “We went to many showrooms to get cycles. All their geared cycles were sold out. The showrooms said that they wouldn’t get restocked soon, and if orders were placed (with manufacturers) for a hundred cycles, they would get only about 20-30 percent of that. In fact, the people at the showroom were urging us to buy normal cycles and retrofit the gear system.” Life Behind Bars Cycles or LBB for short, a boutique bicycle store in Indiranagar, has sold out all the models in their store. LBB specialises in imported bicycles, and most of the models in their store are high-end models.  Shariq Rahman, the owner of LBB says, "There are no cycles left in the country! After the lockdown lifted, we had so much sales that we have completely sold out our cycles. We even do bike servicing for high end bikes, and have seen new customers, who are bringing in their older bikes. Now we have placed orders for new bikes, which are set to come from Taiwan, but delayed in imports. We expect to get them by August.” When asked why there was such an increase in demand, Shariq says, “People have realised that things are not to be taken for granted. We don’t just sell bikes, it’s a lifestyle of living differently.” Padma Naveen, who is part of a cycling group called “The Cyclones” in KR Puram, says that since the lockdown, they have been using their cycles a lot more. “This is a way to get exercise and be in a community, while also maintaining physical distance and wearing masks. I have found that there has been an increased interest in cycling, and our group, which had only four members before the lockdown, now has ten new people who have bought cycles and joined us. A few of our members have gone up to the Bengaluru airport and come back, a journey of 60 kms up and down.” Padma says that her husband has joined the club, and that they go out cycling on weekends as a family, with their teenage daughter. Babu, the store manager at Decathlon in Indiranagar says that higher end models got sold out first.  “We don’t have space in our store so we have display pieces, based on which we take orders and deliver. But the godown has no stock of three gear cycle models anymore.” “We have about three models for children, and the high end model is sold out. We have about ten models for adults, and two high end models for them too, have been sold out, surpassing our sales projections. The next supply for these models will come only in September, especially as manufacturing has been hit.” Anil from Cycle Works in Kalyan Nagar says that about 10 to 15 models are out of stock at their store. “We’ve seen an increase in demand and many models are out of stock. As far as children’s cycles are concerned, this is expected. This is the season for buying cycles, especially as children get their exam results and parents fulfil their promises, one of which is buying them bicycles. Now that the lockdown is lifted, we are seeing more customers,” he told TNM. Even Crankmeister Bicycle Works in Cox Town, a bicycle tuning store, is witnessing increased customer footfall. “Compared to pre-lockdown days, we have definitely seen an increase in demand. We sell only a few cycles, but we’ve been seeing more demand for cycle components (parts), bike service, and demand for our bike fit service,” Monica from Crankmeister says. She notes that people are probably getting their cycles out more. “Due to the lockdown restrictions people can’t go very far, and people who already had cycles are coming in for a tune-up. People who have unused cycles are coming in for a bike fit, which is a service to get the cycle more tuned to the cyclist’s body measurements, depending on their leg and torso lengths.” Padma says that all this has made her hopeful that more people will take to cycling. “I am crazy about cycling. I used to cycle once a month to work. My office is 15 km away, in Whitefield. Now that we have gone 30-35 km, the distance to the office looks a lot less now. Maybe I will look at cycling more often, when things return to normal.” Activists who have been urging fellow citizens to take up cycling too say that they are pleased with the development. Dasarathi GV, a city-based activist, says, “I notice that there’s a sudden increase in the number of adults cycling for pleasure in my locality over the past couple of months. I suspect it’s because they have more time at home and the roads have fewer automobiles. I only hope some of these people graduate from using bicycles for pleasure to using them as a regular mode of transport.” 

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/3irpP9I
via IFTTT

'Why weren’t beds increased?: Siddaramaiah accuses K’taka govt of mismanagement

Coronavirus

The former Karnataka Chief Minister also raised the issue of controversial videos of dumping of bodies of COVID-19 victims in burial pits.

TNM Staff

File image

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah targeted the BJP-led Union and state governments over the lack of preparedness and efficiency in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. In a series of tweets, the Leader of Opposition in the state detailed his criticism regarding the handling of the situation following a press conference held in Bengaluru on the same issue.  He said according to the government data, there are 4,663 beds out of which 2,694 beds are occupied. There are only 1,969 beds available. “Why did govt not anticipate the need for increased beds in spite of warnings by experts? By now, at least 30,000 beds should have been arranged,” he asked. He touched upon the issue of lack of coordination within the Health Department and other arms of the administration which is leading to lack of information to patients. He pointed out that patients are forced to wait on roads and due to lack of adequate ambulances, personal vehicles are being used by families. He also raised the issue of controversial videos showing dumping of bodies of COVID-19 victims in burial pits. “Government has failed to arrange for a decent funeral of dead patients. It is heart wrenching to see the way the bodies are treated during burials. It is unfortunate that the government has not finalised cremation protocol even after so many days,” Siddaramaiah alleged. Besides pointing at the shortcomings in terms of making necessary arrangements for the Karnataka government, the ex-CM also levelled corruption allegations against the BJP government. “The state government has indulged in corrupt practices in the procurement of medical supplies for COVID-19 management. The CM of Karnataka claims to have spent Rs 3,228 cr but the same would have cost around Rs 1,400 cr if prevailing market prices are considered,” Siddaramaiah alleged. He further alleged, “The CM of Karnataka has procured medical supplies at double the actual market cost. Close to Rs 2,200 cr has been misappropriated by various departments in their COVID-19 management efforts. There has to be a detailed investigation into this.” Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Centre, he said, “About 60,000 Cr is collected in PM Cares Fund. But only 3,200 crores is spent by PMO. What happened to the rest of the money? How much of the spent money has helped Karnataka? Only a detailed white paper by both the governments can answer” The departments are working in secrecy. The data are not disclosed even when I, as Leader of Opposition, submit the request. Govt has to release white paper with regards to #Covid19 management to ensure transparency & accountability. 9/11#PressMeet — Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) July 3, 2020 He also raised the issue of low testing in the country compared to other affected countries. He said, “India is lagging behind in the testing rates. USA has tested 1 lakh for every million population, Italy 90 thousand, England 75 thousand and India is still around 6,900 tests for a million population.”

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2ZBnmki
via IFTTT

Is the govt rushing to get Covaxin vaccine by August 15? What experts say

Covaxin

Labs were notified only on July 2 that they had to carry out the trial. Concerns about compromising on safety due to fast-tracking remain.

Haripriya Suresh

Soumya Chatterjee

Image for representation/Picxy

Twelve labs were informed by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) on Thursday that they would be carrying out clinical trials of COVAXIN, India's first vaccine for COVID-19 that has been approved for human trials. However, the ICMR has also set a public launch deadline of August 15 this year, and this has raised concerns regarding whether a vaccine can be pushed for public use after barely a month of trials. This indigenous vaccine (BBV152 COVID vaccine) was developed by ICMR in partnership with Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL). ICMR will have a meeting with the selected labs on Saturday, but the labs are yet to get complete details about the project. Four of the twelve labs selected are based in south India. Preparations on for Phase 1 Usually, Phase 1 is a clinical trial in small group, and is to ascertain the safety profile of the vaccine. When it progresses to phase 2, the sample size is increased, and it looks at immune responses. In phase 3, this is done on a much larger scale with many more participants. Phase 3 is not even mentioned in the document. Jeevan Rekha Hospital in Belagavi and the Nizam’s Institute of Social Sciences in Hyderabad, which have both been selected, said that they received the communication regarding the trials on Thursday, and expect to start work next week. Dr Amit Bhate from the Jeevan Rekha Hospital in Belagavi, which will be conducting the trials, said, “We received communication yesterday [Thursday] that we have to start with the trials. I got the news 10 days back that we are going to do the trials. We are partnered with the CMS laboratory, which is in Delhi, and they have a tie-up with Bharat Biotech. We have done similar trials for vaccines for diseases such as for typhoid and Japanese encephalitis,” he said. Dr Bhate said that they will be receiving the vaccine next week, and expect to work with 150-200 individuals. “We will be doing all the trials and submitting the data. On that basis, the immune response of the patients to the vaccine and the success will be seen. After that, further steps will be taken,” he said. All the samples will be collected and sent to the main lab in Delhi. Dr Manohar Reddy, the director of the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) in Hyderabad, said that they will be carrying out the trials on at least 60 participants. The vaccine trials, according to the Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI), will comprise 1,125 healthy individuals between the ages of 18 and 55, with no comorbidities in phase 1. The people selected for the trial will be given two doses – one on day zero and one of day 14. NIMS in Hyderabad is yet to receive approval from its institutional ethics committee, which it expects to get tomorrow. “Once we get the approval, the principal Investigator will start work registering the participants. The real project will kick off from Monday onwards," Dr Manohar said. Phase 1, he said, will go on for a month. Once phase 1 is evaluated for safety, immunogenicity (the ability of cells or tissues to provoke an immune response), etc., ICMR will decide about how to proceed for phase 2, he said. According to CTRI, there will be three groups with 375 participants in each group, which will receive formulations of the vaccine in phase 1. These results will be sent to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation for progressing clinical development. “The ultimate goal is the selection of a safe, well-tolerated, and immunogenic intramuscular vaccine, which will be further evaluated in the phase 2 study,” the CTRI stated. However, the outcomes mentioned in the registry in phase 1 and 2 look at timelines of 194 days (over 6 months), and estimated duration of the trial has been put at 1 year and 3 months.   Concerns regarding fast-tracking Speaking to TNM, Dr Anant Bhan, a bioethics and global health researcher, raised concerns over the Independence Day deadline owing to safety and efficacy concerns. “The concern is – is there enough time given to carry out this kind of research? Is expediting the process way too fast? And will this cause issues with the efficacy and adequate oversight perspectives? Regarding the phase 1 and phase 2 studies — which are safety and immunogenetic studies, we really do not have enough data or information on the efficacy. Only after you have the efficacy data, you know if it’s going to work. If all that has to be done by August 15, then it’s very ambitious and unprecedented with regards to vaccine development,” he said. He, however, said the urgency is understandable given the times of pandemic. “But that does not mean you will skip your requirements. There can be ways of doing things more efficiently but you would need data to be presented in the right manner and make sure that you are covering all the bases while developing the vaccine. While you want to do things faster, you don’t want to do that at the cost of safety or efficacy standards,” he explained. He further added that even with an aggressive timeline of August 15, they may be able to finish phase 1, and the best-case scenario is they’ll be able to finish phase 2 as well. “But beyond that, to finish the third phase by August 15 it is highly unlikely. With regard to this, we need further details from the ICMR and the biotech company about what exactly they are doing and what is the sample size they are looking at,” he added. He also said some amount of information about phase 1 and phase 2 trial data and some part of their pre-clinical trial data needs to be shared in the public domain. Bhan also said in India, there have been no such expedited vaccine trials like these in the last two decades. And if there is any lapse in process, it could lead to a problem of its own. ICMR's letter to the 12 labs also said that non-compliance "will be viewed very seriously. Therefore, you are advised to treat this project on highest priority and meet the given timelines without any lapse." Bhan expressed his reservations about the “threatening tone” of this letter, sent by the ICMR DG. “The tone is a bit surprising. Any research of this kind is a form of a partnership and in order to do it effectively, you need to work closely with them. Care must be taken in order to maintain strict timelines and that due processes are not compromised,” he told TNM. Oommen C Kurian, a Senior Fellow & Head of Health Initiative at the Observer Research Foundation, said that having a vaccine by August 15, 2020, is an impossibility, and the only possibility is that it was typing error in the ICMR letter.  "A vaccine, who's pre-clinical data isn't even published yet, cannot be rushed like this without its efficacy or safety is proven using sufficiently long trials. Only possibility is that there's a typing error, and August 2021 was typed in as August 2020. That will certainly be a realistic timeline," he said. "Normally, after preclinical animal testing, there can be up to four phases of trials which decide if the vaccine is efficacious and safe. Here we seems to have decided it is both, and the trial is being presented as is it is a mere bureaucratic requirement. I hope it is a typing error, else, it will diminish ICMR's credibility globally. Let's pause to remind ourselves that the ex chief of ICMR, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, is one of the most important names in global vaccine development as the chief scientist of WHO. A credible,safe vaccine by 15 August 2020 is a pipe dream," he added. 

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/3gozCLK
via IFTTT