A corporation official checks the temperature of a resident in Chennai. Express Photo: Srinivas K
Tamil Nadu Telangana Assembly Elections COVID-19 Live Updates: Tamil Nadu recorded 1066 positive cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the state tally to 8,10,080. Among these, Chennai reported 302 positive cases, bringing the city’s total to 2,23,209. The state recorded 12 deaths on Wednesday, putting the state toll at 12,024. Eleven of them had succumbed due to comorbidities. The state discharged 1131 patients following treatment, putting the total number of recoveries at 7,88,742.
As Tamil Nadu is headed for elections in May next year, Kamal Haasan became the first politician to start his campaign, much before the AIADMK and DMK leaderships. And, he has already sent out a message that he would be happy to join hands with Rajinikanth’s proposed outfit, if their ideologies match. But for Rajinikanth fans, it is not a great idea at all.
Ahead of Assembly polls, Haasan is now being called the B-Team of the BJP due to his decision to, once again, contest alone. Unlike Rajinikanth, Haasan’s support base also includes the Opposition — anti-AIADMK votes — which would essentially weaken the DMK camp.
Meanwhile, it is estimated Rajinikanth’s proposed outfit will have to struggle to get a two-digit vote share for many reasons, including a much delayed party launch. Rajinikanth is yet to name his party and pick a symbol, and he is yet to begin campaigning on the ground. Further, his party leaders and district functionaries continue to be the unheard office bearers of his fans association.
In the absence of a regular income, several families are struggling to make ends meet, and in some cases, children dropped out of school to support their parents. (Express photo: Janardhan Koushik)
Eleven-year-old Akshaya, who studies in Class VI in a government-aided school in Chennai’s Ratan Baazar, says she has not attended her online classes for months as the only phone available in her house was broken. Stories like Akshaya’s echo in nearly five hundred families living on the streets of North Chennai. The coronavirus-induced lockdown in March this year cut the sources of livelihood of these families. In the absence of a regular income, they are struggling to make ends meet, and in some cases, children dropped out of school to support their parents.
READ | Lockdown forces Chennai homeless children out of school, families struggle to earn a living
Also Read | Railways permits travel on Chennai suburban trains during non-peak hours
Ahead of the Pongal festival, the Tamil Nadu government Wednesday issued guidelines permitting Jallikattu, a traditional bull taming sport, across the state. The event will be held with Covid-19 guidelines in place to curb the spread of the virus. As per the guidelines, only 300 bull tamers will be permitted to take part in Jallikattu, Manjuvirattu, and Vadamadu events. In erudhu vidum vizha (traditional bull races), only 150 racers will be allowed to participate. All the players will have to undergo Covid-19 tests and, only after they test negative, will be allowed to participate.
READ | Tamil Nadu government allows Jallikattu during Pongal, issues Covid-19 guidelines
For assistance on COVID-19-related queries and mental health support in Chennai, citizens can contact the Greater Chennai Corporation’s (GCC) COVID-19 helpline 044 46122300 | Citizens can find the nearest GCC-facilitated COVID-19 fever clinic here | For lodging rain-related complaints and assistance during the monsoon, citizens can contact the GCC’s monsoon helplines 044 25384530 or 044 25384540 or the control room 1913 (available 24×7)
Chennai Hyderabad Coronavirus December 21, 22 Highlights
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chennai/tamil-nadu-andhra-pradesh-telangana-coronavirus-chennai-hyderabad-tamil-nadu-elections-2021-edappadi-stalin-aiadmk-chandrashekar-rao-ysr-live-7116210/
