The Observer An IIJNM publication
Nandi Hills fails to attract visitors after reopening as fear of Omicron variant weighs on their minds | P 5
Vol. 21, Issue 19
Friday, December 3, 2021
By Shristi Achar A and Swarali Bodas
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ew restrictions have been imposed in Karnataka amid the fear of spread of Omicron. It is unofficially determined as “not serious”, Revenue Minister R. Ashoka told a press conference on Friday. “From today, only double vaccinated people will be allowed into malls, cinema halls and schools. Parents of school kids should also be compulsorily double vaccinated.” Up to 500 persons will be allowed at weddings. All cultural activities in educational institutions should be postponed till January 15, 2022.
Sanitary pads continue to damage the environment
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anitary napkins containing plastic continue to cause environmental damage even when more eco-friendly alternatives to them are available. Women who have never tried tampons and menstrual cups, hesitate to try out these products, reports Kashish Sharma. According to a study, around 12 billion sanitary pads are generated every year. This menstrual waste takes 500 to 800 years to fully decompose. Improper disposal of sanitary waste can be seen at all levels. Very often, menstrual waste finds its way into landfills without being subjected to a prior chemical or thermal treatment. According to the Solid Waste Management Rules 2016, waste must be segregated into three parts” wet, dry and domestic hazardous waste. Sanitary waste should be properly wrapped. Details on page 3
Minister R. Ashoka announces the new Covid guidelines at a press conference | Shristi Achar A There will be compulsory testing for health workers, persons above 65 years. The Covid control room, which was dormant for a while, but will be restarted, he said. Testing for Covid-19 at airports is available for all. The RT-PCR test is available for Rs 500, while the rapid antigen test costs Rs 3,000 in Bengaluru. It’s Rs
4,000 or more in other states. People found not wearing masks in municipal corporation areas will be fined Rs 250. The penalty for other areas is Rs 100, according to a state government order. The winter session of the legislature in Belagavi won't be postponed. It hasn’t been happening for two years, Ashoka said. The decisions were taken at a meeting chaired by chief minister Basavaraj Bommai. “Covid testing was only 60,000 per day. But we will be increasing it to 1 lakh per day now. ICU beds, general beds, oxygen supply and oxygen plants… will be updated,” he added. Shilpa Nagraj has been appointed surveillance officer. About 10 foreigners who had travel history in Africa going missing in Bengaluru, the minister said they will be traced and tested by midnight. The matter has been referred to the police
commissioner. “Pediatric ICUs and purchase of equipment, everything is being taken care of," health minister K. Sudhakar told a press conference. Asked how many beds have been reserved for Omicron patients, Sudhakar replied: “It is too early to say…. We still have to see if normal Covid positive patients and Omicron positive patients should be kept together or in separate isolation wards.” He appealed to every citizen to be ethical. “One should not switch off their phones or become untraceable if they have tested positive,” Sudhakar said. “The state government will clear Covid risk allowance within 20 days, through the HRMS portal, all salaries which are due will be credited,” Sudhakar said. shristi.a@iijnm.org , swarali.b@iijnm.org ►Read full report on www.weeklyobserver.in
Going around sans masks, citizens show Omicron doesn’t bother them Team Observer
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day after Bengaluru reported its first cases of the Omicron variant of Covid19, The Observer discovered that people across the city are hardly following any protocols. The Observer went to different places in the city to see the ground situation. K.R. Market was flooded with people with masks hanging at their chins. Some were seen without masks as well. People were brushing against each other while walking. Some people were heard shouting saying “Please wear your masks”, but no one paid any attention to them. At the teeming Chickpet market, nobody wore a mask. The scene at the Kempegowda Majestic Metro station was familiar. People were rushing in and out of Metro trains with their masks at their chins or no masks. Metros were running at full capacity yet people kept rushing in-
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Government schools in the city prove to be inaccessible for children with special needs | P 4
Only fully vaccinated people to be allowed into malls, cinemas Cultural events in schools, colleges put off till Jan.15
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News briefs Omicron severity may be low, says Centre The Union health ministry has said that due to the fast pace of vaccination in the country, the severity of new Covid variant, Omicron, is expected to be low. The government has urged people to get vaccination as soon as possible. In a statement, the ministry said: “Given the variant’s characteristics, it is likely to spread to more countries, including India.”
Use Delta experience to tackle Omicron: WHO WHO officials in the Western Pacific say border closures adopted by some countries may buy time to deal with the Omicron coronavirus variant, but measures put in place and experience gained in dealing with the Delta variant should remain the foundation for fighting the pandemic.
New variant found in multiple US states The Omicron variant, undetected in the US before the middle of this week, had been discovered in at least five states by the end of Thursday, showing yet again how mutations of the virus can circumnavigate the globe with speed and ease. Just a day after the first known US case was found in California, tests showed the variant had infected at least five people in New York City, plus a man from Minnesota.
Cyclone Jawad to slam Odisha-AP coast today A cyclone called ‘Jawad’ is likely to reach the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh coast by Saturday. Special Relief Commissioner PK Jena said that the cyclonic storm might cause a landfall in Puri before heading to the Bay of Bengal. The state governments are taking steps to prevent any loss of life. People across the city were seen without masks | Credit: Saumyangi Y
Controversial singer Moosewala joins Congress
n’t. People who didn’t get tested said officials didn’t ask them. the teams in charge of the testing was busy testing police officers, allowing many travellers ( to go out. Some porters and autorickshaw drivers outside the train station also did not wear masks. ►Full coverage on page 2 ►Photo feature on page 6
Controversial singer Sidhu Moosewala will contest the upcoming Punjab polls on the Congress ticket from his hometown Mansa. Despite his videos glorifying gun culture and violence, chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi and state Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu welcomed him into the party on Friday.
stead of waiting for the next one. At the KSR railway station, not everyone was tested for Covid-19. This was contrary to what the BBMP Health Officer informed The Observer. Most people were not wearing masks at all, while others didn’t wear them properly. The Observer spoke to people who got tested and those who did-