Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami Friday announced that from August 17 anyone who applies for e-an pass for inter-district travel during the lockdown will receive it instantly without any delay. E-passes were earlier issued only for marriage, medical emergency, and funeral.
READ | TN eases restrictions on e-pass, CM Palaniswami requests people to use it only for important work
In a statement, CM Palaniswami said the decision to ease restriction on e-pass was taken in public interest. ”I request people to utilize this E-pass only for important work. To prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, co-operate with the government by following all the guidelines,” he said. Those who wish to apply for e-pass need to provide a copy of their Aadhar card or ration card alongside their mobile/telephone number.
Tamil Nadu BJP vice-president and former DMK general secretary VP Duraisamy on Wednesday said next year’s assembly election is going to be a battle between DMK and BJP.
Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Duraisamy said being the ruling party at the Centre, the BJP has the right to lead the alliance in Tamil Nadu ahead of assembly elections.
READ | Tamil Nadu: BJP will head alliance in 2021 Assembly polls, fight is versus DMK, says Duraisamy
“Till last week, the 2021 elections were projected as DMK vs AIADMK, but after the departure of Ku Ka Selvam (DMK MLA from Thousand Lights constituency), it has become BJP vs DMK. This is a sign of our growth, we are growing fast in Tamil Nadu. Like-minded parties would be part of the alliance, we will lead them because we are a national party,” he said.
Recoveries have crossed 10,000 in four of the 15 zones in Chennai, with the city having recorded 1,00,643 recoveries till date.
Here are the recoveries in the top 10 zones:
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Playback singer S P Balasubrahmanyam, whose health was critical on Friday continues to remain on life support. A statement released from MGM Healthcare, where he is undergoing treatment said that he is stable and doctors are monitoring the singer's clinical parameters.
Also Read | Singer S P Balasubrahmanyam critical, on life support
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami hoisted the tricolour at the Secretariat in Chennai's Fort St. George today. Celebrations were low-key amid the pandemic in the state.
Chennai recorded 1,187 fresh cases on Friday, taking its total number of cases to 1,14,260. Currently, there are 11,209 active cases in the city.
Here are the active cases in the top 10 zones:
The Greater Chennai Traffic Police (GCTP) have issued modifications in the movement of traffic in Chennai during the Independence Day celebrations today. Owing to the pandemic, the state will have a low-key ceremony with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami hoisting the flag at the Secretariat, while the ceremony will be broadcast live over television.
Here are the changes in traffic movement which will be in place from 6 am until the end of the function:
A total of 70 flights will fly between Chennai and major cities today, with 35 departures and 35 arrivals scheduled at the Chennai International Airport.
CM Palaniswami Friday announced that from August 17 anyone who applies for e-an pass for inter-district travel during the lockdown will receive it instantly without any delay. E-passes were earlier issued only for marriage, medical emergency, and funeral.
In a statement, CM Palaniswami said the decision to ease restriction on e-pass was taken in public interest. ”I request people to utilize this E-pass only for important work. To prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, co-operate with the government by following all the guidelines,” he said. Those who wish to apply for e-pass need to provide a copy of their Aadhar card or ration card alongside their mobile/telephone number.
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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami Friday unveiled the ‘Amma COVID-19 Home Care Kit’ for people who have tested positive for the virus and been advised home isolation.
Costing Rs 2,500, the kit comprises of a pulse oximeter, a digital thermometer, packs of herbal immunity boosters like ‘Athimathuram’ and ‘Kabasura Kudineer’, the state government said.
The kit also has 60 tablets of ‘Amookra Chooranam’ having beneficial effects for the virus-infected, 14 tablets each of multi-vitamins and zinc, 14 face masks and a soap, an official press release said, adding that these would be sufficient for 14 days.
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Tamil Nadu on Friday reported 5,890 fresh Covid-19 cases, taking the overall tally to 3,26,245. With 117 deaths reported in the past 24 hours, the death toll reached 5,514.
In Chennai, there has been a surge in the number of cases. The city, which had been maintaining less than 1,000 cases for the past one week reported 1,187 fresh cases on Friday, taking its total number of cases to 1,14,260. Other neighboring districts Thiruvallur (495), Chengalpattu (437), Kancheepuram (315) reported 1,247 Covid-19 cases.
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Tamil Nadu on Friday reported 5,890 fresh Covid-19 cases, taking the overall tally to 3,26,245. With 117 deaths reported in the past 24 hours, the death toll reached 5,514.
A total of 70,153 samples tests were done by RT-PCR yesterday. So far, 35,69,453 samples have been tested in Tamil Nadu.
On Friday, as many as 5,556 persons were discharged, taking the number of recoveries to 2,67,015. There are 53,716 active cases in the state.
Of the 5,75,823 passengers who entered Tamil Nadu through various modes of transport, 5,914 passengers have tested positive.
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Good morning!
Welcome to the live blog from Chennai where we bring to you the latest updates on COVID-19, lockdown in Tamil Nadu and more in the state throughout the day. Follow the blog to stay up to date with the state in real time.
Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit has tested negative for COVID-19. A statement released by Dr. Aravindan Selvaraj, Executive Director at Kaveri Hospital, whose doctors were involved in monitoring the governor's health said that he tested negative for the virus today. The statement added that he continues to remain active.
The health of singer S P Balasubrahmanyam has deteriorated, said a statement from MGM Healthcare where the singer is undergoing treatment for COVID-19. A statement issued by the hospital said that his condition is critical.
Also Read | SPB tests positive for COVID-19
Earlier on Thursday, the hospital had stated that the singer, who had tested positive on August 5 was recovering well. However, his health took a turn for the worse overnight and he has been placed on life support.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami Friday announced that from August 17 anyone who applies for E-Pass for inter-district travel during the lockdown will receive it instantly without any delay.
E-passes were earlier issued only for marriage, medical emergency, and funeral. Issuing a statement, CM Edappadi said the decision to ease restriction on e-pass was taken considering the public interest. "I request people to utilize this e-pass only for important work. To prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, co-operate with the government by following all the guidelines", he said.
Those who wish to apply for e-pass need to provide a copy of their Aadhar or Ration card alongside their Mobile/Telephone number.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami Friday announced that from August 17 anyone who applies for E-Pass for inter-district travel during the lockdown will receive it instantly without any delay.
The statement comes from the Chief Minister a few days after the government informed the Madras High Court that a committee will be set up to streamline the issuance of e-passes for movement between the districts. The court had directed the state government to have a serious look into the issue as there had been allegations of fake e-passes.
Several political leaders also urged the TN government to do away with the e-pass system claiming it causes much inconvenience to the general public. DMK Leader MK Stalin issued a statement a week ago asking the state government why it is still holding on with the e-pass system when the Centre itself had already done away with it. He said even when people apply for emergency purposes, their e-passes are getting rejected multiple times causing them much agony. He also alleged there are several irregularities on the distribution of e-passes.
Tamil Nadu BJP President L Murugan too urged the government to do away with the e-pass system.
The Greater Chennai Traffic Police (GCTP) have issued modifications in the movement of traffic in Chennai during the Independence Day celebrations on Saturday. Owing to the pandemic, the state will have a low-key ceremony with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami hoisting the flag at the Secretariat, while the ceremony will be broadcast live over television.
Here are the changes in traffic movement which will be in place from 6 aam until the end of the function:
As a token of recognition to their public service, 15 police officers are been selected to receive Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's police medal on the occasion of Independence Day. S.Davidson Devasirvatham, ADGP Technical services, Chennai, K.Shankar, IG, Crime Branch, CID, S.Saravanan, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Tirunelveli, S Deepa Ganiger, SP, Salem, P.Jagannath, Head Constable, Job Racket Team, CCB, Chennai are chosen. Similarly, in recognition of outstanding work done in criminal investigation, G.Nagajothi, DCP, CCB, Chennai, R.Kumaresan, DSP, Q Branch CID, Chennai, T.Saravanan, ACP, Salem, S.K.Durai Pandian, DSP, Vellore, Elangovan Jennings, Inspector, Crime Branch, Trichy, PS Chitra, Crime Record Bureau, Trichy, K, Neeladevi, Crime Record Bureau, Sivagangai, S.Patchaimmal, Arakonam Railway Police station, P.Ulaga Rani, Crime Branch CID, Tirunelveli, P Vijayalakshmi, Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement cell, Tirunelveli are the officers who have been selected tor receive the Chief Minister's police medal.
The Southern Railway on Friday announced that special train services within Tamil Nadu shall remain suspended till August 31. The seven special train services were earlier canceled till August 15 based on the request of the state government. However, the special superfast train operated between New Delhi and Dr. MGR Central Railway Station Chennai would continue its operation. According to the press released by the Southern Railway, the canceled trains include the Tiruchi-Chengalpattu-Tiruchi, Madurai-Villupuram-Madurai, Coimbatore-Katpadi-Coimbatore, Tiruchi-Chengalpattu-Tiruchi, Arakkonam-Coimbatore-Arakkonam, Coimbatore-Mayiladuthurai-Coimbatore and Tiruchi-Nagercoil-Tiruchi services. A full refund would be given to the passengers and those who have booked online will be refunded automatically. Also, counter tickets can be refunded anytime up to six months from the date of the journey.
Tangedco has announced a powercut in parts of Chennai today from 9 am to 2 pm to carry out maintenance work.
Here are the areas which will be affected:
Veteran singer SP Balasubrahmanyam, who is undergoing treatment for COVID-19 in Chennai, is “stable” and maintaining “normal oxygen saturation,” the private hospital where he is undergoing treatment said on Thursday.
SPB is being monitored by an expert team at MGM Healthcare, hospital director Prashanth Rajagopalan said in a bulletin. The singer-actor admitted with mild symptoms “continues to be stable and is maintaining normal oxygen saturation,” he said. “He is being monitored by the expert team of clinicians in our High Dependency Unit (HDU), Dr Rajagopalan added.
The 74 year-old singer, who has worked across Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi and Malayalam film industries, had taken to Facebook last week to inform fans that he was suffering from a mild case of Covid-19. SPB had shared a video where he asked people to not worry about his health.
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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami will unfurl the Tricolour in a low-key ceremony at the Secretariat on Saturday, the government said, and urged people to avoid visiting the venue in person as the programme will go live on TV and radio.
There will be no participation of freedom fighters, since they are senior citizens. Students and schoolchildren will also not be involved due to the “extraordinary” pandemic situation, an official release said.
Further, there will be no distribution of sweets to differently abled children, as is the practice every year. This time, the Social Welfare Department will personally visit such children and hand over the sweets on behalf of the chief minister.
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A total of 38 police personnel from the Armed reserve of Chennai police donated plasma for the treatment of Covid-19 patients on Thursday. So far, 1,920 police personnel in Tamil Nadu have been infected by the novel coronavirus and 1,549 of them have recovered.
In a statement, the Tamil Nadu government appreciated the gesture of the police personnel who are at the forefront of the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami will honour frontline workers in the battle against COVID-19 during the 74th Independence Day celebrations in Chennai, the government said on Thursday. Palaniswami will unfurl the Tricolour in a low-key ceremony at the Secretariat on Saturday, the government said, and urged people to avoid visiting the venue in person as the programme will go live on TV and radio.
District Collectors have been directed to honour 10 freedom fighters in their respective residences while following COVID-19 protocol, it said.
“The chief minister will honour COVID-19 frontline workers by giving them medals and certificates,” it said.
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Tamil Nadu on Thursday reported 5,835 fresh Covid-19 cases and 119 deaths, taking its total number of cases to 3,20,355 and death toll to 5,397.
Chennai recorded 989 cases, taking its total to 1,13,058. As many as 18 people succumbed to Covid-19 in the city on Thursday. Among the deceased, 112 had co-morbidities.
Apart from Chennai, Chengalpattu (453), Thiruvallur (390), Coimbatore (289) and Theni (286) reported maximum cases.
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Tamil Nadu on Thursday reported 5,835 fresh Covid-19 cases and 119 deaths, taking its total number of cases to 3,20,355 and death toll to 5,397.
A total of 5,146 persons were discharged following treatment, taking the number of recoveries to 2,61,459. Including today’s samples tested by RT-PCR, the total number of samples tested reached 34,99,300.
There are 53,499 active cases in the state.
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Good morning!
Welcome to the live blog from Chennai where we bring to you the latest updates on COVID-19, unlock phase 1 in Tamil Nadu and more in the state throughout the day. Follow the blog to stay up to date with the state in real time.