Vaccination, testing to continue during lockdown
The Hindu
‘All hospitals, diagnostic centres will function normally’
A few minutes after the Telangana government announced a 10-day State-wide lockdown from Wednesday, there were a lot of questions regarding continuation of COVID-19 vaccination, testing and other health services. Director of Public Health G. Srinivasa Rao, on Tuesday evening, clarified that all medical and health services at all government and private hospitals, as well as diagnostic and testing centres will function normally. The senior official added that the government vaccination centres will also remain open from 9 am to 4 pm. “However, as announced previously, only the 45-plus age group will be given the second dose. They have to show proof of having taken the first dose, either in form of a partial vaccination certificate that they can download from cowin.gov.in, or a text message that they may have received confirming administering of the first dose. Those eligible should also carry their Aadhaar card with them,” Dr Srinivasa Rao said.The election authorities are gearing up for the counting of votes cast in the simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, scheduled to be held on June 4. The Collectors and Election Officers of Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli and Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) districts said on May 23 (Thursday) that their teams were ready for the counting of votes.
Responding to the prolonged water scarcity, the residents of the area took to the streets in protest on Wednesday. The protest, which drew attention to their plight, stopped only after the intervention of the police. It was not until 1.30 p.m. that a 4000-litre tanker was finally delivered by BWSSB, providing relief to the water-starved residents.