KALABURAGI  TUESDAY  JANUARY 11, 2022  `9.00  PAGES 12  CITY EDITION VICTORY FOR DJOKOVIC BUT ISSUE YET TO BE RESOLVED NOVAK POTENTIALLY ABLE TO PLAY AT OZ OPEN World No 1 wins legal battle to stay in Australia. However, country’s immigration minister could still deport him In an emergency court hearing on Monday, the judge made the ruling in favour of Djokovic — who was in detention since his arrival on January 6 — on Covid-19 health grounds, potentially clearing the way for him to take part in the Australian Open. The Serbian player’s lawyers argued that since he recently recovered from Covid-19, he didn’t need to be inoculated ■ NINE BIGGEST VICTORY IN HIS CAREER: MOTHER ■ Djokovic’s mother Dijana (left) was elated. After the court’s verdict, she said: “This is the biggest victory in his career, bigger than all his grand slams.” In a Twitter post after the court verdict, Djokovic said that he’s eager to take part in the Australian Open | P11 NO OF OZ OPEN TITLES DJOKOVIC HAS POCKETED, MOST IN MEN’S SINGLES CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOGGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI ICMR advisory says asymptomatic individuals and contacts of patients, unless identified as high risk, needn’t be tested Deploy medical students for Covid care: Centre S U M I S U K A N YA D U T TA @ New Delhi THOUGH the current rate of hospitalisation of Covid patients is just 5-10% as against 20-23% during the second wave, the Centre on Monday urged states to augment human resources by engaging retired medical professionals or MBBS students as was done last year. They can be used for teleconsultation as well as providing training to community volunteers in basic care and management at Covid Care Centres, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in a letter to all states. BSc nursing students of third and fourth year, too, can be deployed, he suggested. Later in the day, the Indian Council of Medical Research issued an advisory saying asymptomatic individuals and contacts of Covid-positive patients, unless identified as high risk based on age or comorbidities, should not be tested for the infection. While the advisory is aimed at conserving resources, it also means that the count of frech cases could significantly go under the radar. Bhushan’s letter acknowledged that various states have initiated steps for setting up jumbo health facilities, including field hospitals and temporary hospitals. But both infrastructure and human resources have their limitations, he said. Therefore, it is important to conserve healthcare workers by staggering their deployment wherever possible and by restricting elective procedures in the hospitals, he said. As for the private sector, he said: “It must also be ensured that charges... are reasonable and there is a mechanism to monitor and initiate action in cases of P7 over-charging.” CM, 3 state MPs test +ve for Covid-19... E X P R E SS N E WS S E R V I C E @ Bengaluru IF INFECTED, WAIT 90 DAYS Doctors and virologists in Karnataka are asking healthcare workers and the elderly population getting their booster shots, to wait for a minimum of 90 days if they have had a recent breakthrough infection, otherwise the vaccine won’t help much | P3 It must also be ensured that charges... are reasonable and there is a mechanism to monitor and initiate action in cases of over-charging Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary JAB-O-METER TAKE YOUR SHOT Jan 9 29,60,975 doses Jan 10 82,76,158 doses TOTAL: 1,52,78,35,951 NATIONWIDE JAN 9 JAN 10 Fresh cases 1,59,632 1,79,723 Recoveries 40,863 46,569 Deaths 327 146 KARNATAKA JAN 9 JAN 10 Fresh cases 12,000 11,698 Recoveries 901 1,148 Deaths 4 4 Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar at the launch of the booster dose drive for frontline workers and the elderly in Bengaluru on Monday K’taka at No. 4 in booster dose coverage on Day 1 E X P R E SS N E WS S E R V I C E @ Bengaluru TWO healthcare workers, two frontline workers and two people aged above 60 years, were the first to get the Covid-19 ‘precautionary’ booster dose on Monday during the inauguration of the drive at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College and Research Centre, launched by CM Basavaraj Bommai. As of 8.30 pm, Karnataka had administered 81,728 booster doses, standing fourth in the country after Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan. The BBMP topped the list in all three beneficiary categories with 5,281 healthcare workers, 2,463 frontline worker and 3,931 persons aged over 60 being administered the dose on day one. But, 79,787 health care workers and 20,467 frontline workers (total 1,00,254) were estimated to be due for the booster shot in the BBMP limits on day one. However the compiled districtwise data was not updated after 3.30 pm till the time of going to the press. Bengaluru has been largely leading the surge in Covid cases with a huge majority of the additions in the state being reported from the state capital. Health officials said it is particularly important that target beneficiary groups eligible for the booster shots in Bengaluru come forward to take them. The BBMP in a press release, , said, “While 39,642 beneficiaries aged 60 and above are expected to complete 39 weeks after their second dose, those with comorbidities shall be eligible for the precaution dose (booster dose) on doctor’s advice. However, no document/ certificate from the doctor is necessary for availing this P3 extra dose.” CHIEF Minister Basavaraj Bommai and a few other state leaders tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday “I have tested . positive for Covid-19 today with mild symptoms. My health is fine, I am under home quarantine,” the CM posted on Twitter. “I request everyone who has recently come in my contact to isolate themselves and get tested,” he noted. Sources in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said that on Monday morning, a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) showed Bommai as negative, after which he went ahead with his programmes. However, the RT-PCR report came back positive in the evening. Except for mild cough, the CM is reportedly doing fine and has isolated himself at his RT Nagar residence in Bengaluru. Bommai had tested positive for Covid-19 in September 2020. On Monday the CM attended , a programme to launch the precautionary booster dose vaccination, held a meeting with ministers and top bureaucrats to discuss measures to tone up the administration, met a delegation of former vice-chancellors of universities and visited Prof Chandrashekar Patil’s residence in the city to pay tributes to the departed poet, writer and critic. Sources said after the surge in cases and Revenue Minister R Ashoka and Chief Secretary Ravi Kumar testing positive a few days ago, the CMO has been taking all precautions to ensure that only a minimum number of people attended the CM’s meetings. Tests are also being conducted P5 regularly at the CMO. SC panel to investigate Noted Kannada PM’s security breach literary figure K A N U SA R DA @ New Delhi JOBS TOTAL EMPLOYMENT UP IN NINE SECTORS Total employment in nine sectors rose to 3.10 crore during the July-September period of 2021, an increase of 2 lakh, compared to the June quarter last year, according to a quarterly employment survey released by the Union Labour Ministry on Monday. The numbers reflects an improvement in economic activities after states lifted restrictions. THE Supreme Court on Monday said it would set up a high-level committee headed by a retired SC judge to probe the security lapse during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab last week. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana also ordered the inquiry committees of the Centre and the Punjab government to stop their investigations into the January 5 security lapse. “We are taking the PM’s security breach very seriously,” the bench remarked, while hearing the plea of ‘Lawyers Voice’ seeking a thorough investigation into the breach in Modi’s security in Punjab to ensure there is no such incident in the future. While a detailed order is yet to be passed, the bench said it proposes to include the Director General of Police in Chan- digarh, the ADGP (security) in Punjab, an Inspector General of the National Investigation Agency and the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana HC in the committee. The order came after the Punjab government demanded an independent probe, saying the state would not get a fair hearing in any probe carried out by the Centre. During the hearing, Punjab Advocate General D S Patwalia took strong exception to seven showcause notices issued to the SSP concerned, chief secretary and senior officials of the state asking them to explain why action should not be taken. The bench asked how notices could be issued when it had on January 7 put on hold inquiries by the Centre and state. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta clarified the showcause notices were issued before the SC order. Champa no more E X P R E SS N E WS S E R V I C E @ Bengaluru WELL-known Kannada poet, critic and writer Professor Chandrashekar Patil (82), popularly known as Champa, passed away at a private hospital in Bengaluru on Monday . Professor Champa, who was in the forefront of the fight for the implementation of Kannada as medium of instruction in primary schools, had been ailing from some time now and is survived by his wife, daughter and son. The mortal remains were kept at the Kannada Sahithya Parishat for some time for the public to pay their last respects and the last rites were conducted later with state honours at the burial ground in Chamarajapet on Monday. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, former CM B S Yediyurappa and others have condoled Champa’s death. CONTINUED ON: P4 OUTRAGE Actor’s nasty tweet lands him in big trouble E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Chennai SNARKY social media posts, especially if they are double entendres, can land you in serious trouble. Actor Siddharth finds himself at the receiving end after his nasty tweet against badminton ace Saina Nehwal’s post condemning the recent lapse in security when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Punjab. The National Commission for Women on Monday came down on him like a ton of bricks by taking suo motu cognisance of the matter and wrote to Twitter asking it to block his account. Parallelly, it wrote to the Maharashtra Police directing it to register an FIR against him under relevant sections, saying his remarks were lewd, inappropriate and misogynist. It all began on Wednesday last, when Modi’s convoy was blocked by protesting farmers in Punjab. Saina, who is also a member of the BJP tweeted: “No nation can claim , itself to be safe if the security of its own PM gets compromised. I condemn, in the strongest words possible, the cowardly attack on PM Modi by anarchists. #BharatStandsWithModi #PMModi.” Siddharth’s’s acidic comment came a day later: “Subtle cock champion of the world... Thank God we have protectors of India. Folded hands. Shame on you #Rihanna.” His tweet on Thursday started getting amplified on Monday with several politicians and members of the film fraternity condemning it. Saina’s husband Parupalli Kashyap said, “This is upsetting for us. Express ur opinion but choose better words man.” But Siddharth kept defending the indefensible. “COCK & BULL” That’s the reference. Reading otherwise is unfair and leading! Nothing disrespectful was intended, said or insinuated. Period,” he tweeted on Monday . His troubles may have just begun. ...but DKS refuses test, booked for violations E X P R E SS N E WS S E R V I C E @ Bengaluru WITH the Opposition Congress pushing ahead with its padayatra over the Mekedatu issue, the local administration on Monday filed an FIR against as many as 31 party leaders, including KPCC president D K Shivakumar, Congress legislature party leader Siddaramaiah and leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjuna Kharge, for violating Covid norms. In more trouble, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has asked Kar nataka DG&IGP Praveen Sood to initiate necessary action and inquiry against Shivakumar for failing to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour when he met some schoolchildren during the padayatra. The state police chief has been asked to submit an action-taken report within seven days. The Congress kicked off the Mekedatu padayatra from Sangama in Kanakapura taluk of Ramanagara district. Shivakumar continued to dare the authorities, sarcastically remarking that he will furnish more videos of the party’s rank and file taking part in the big-tick- KPCC president DK Shivakumar and Congress workers on Day 2 of their 10-day padayatra on Monday et event which has witnessed over 7,000 people in attendance. The padayatra, under his leadership, continued with much fanfare on Monday and thousands of participants heading towards Kanakapura from Shivakumar’s hometown Dodda Alanahalli village. On Sunday evening, Shivakumar had even refused to give his swabs for testing and, in turn, accused the government of conspiring to get him infected by sending an ‘infected person’ to collect his samples. P4 EXPRESS READ Explosion kills 9 kids in eastern Afghanistan Rajnath, Nadda test positive for Covid-19 Kabul: An explosion in eastern Afghanistan near the border with Pakistan on Monday killed nine children and wounded four, according to the office of a Taliban-appointed governor. A statement said the blast took place when a cart selling food items struck an old, unexploded mortar shell in the district of Lalopar, in Nagarhar province. New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that he has tested positive for Covid-19. He said he had mild symptoms and is under home quarantine. Meanwhile, BJP president J P Nadda also tested positive for Covid-19. He said he has isolated himself and urged those who came in his contact to get themselves tested too.