Tamil Nadu Covid news live: 'Early tracheostomy helps young Covid patients'

Doctors at the citybased MIOT hospital have said performing early tracheostomy for young Covid-19 patients improved treatment outcomes. The procedure creates an opening at the front of the neck so that a tube can be inserted into the windpipe (trachea) to help patients breathe.

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay the Tamil Nadu law on 10.5% internal quota for Vanniyakula Kshatriya community within the 20% quota earmarked for Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities in educational institutions and jobs, but agreed to examine its validity. A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and Ravindra Bhat issued notice to the state government seeking its response to two petitions which said the law was unconstitutional and violates Article 340 of the Constitution as reservation is permissible only to classes and not to a caste.

Fresh cases of Covid-19 continued to drop across the state on Friday though six districts reported a marginal increase. The state reported 97 deaths and discharged 4,952 people from the Covid-19 registry. At the end of the day, there were 36,707 people under treatment for the viral infection.

Expressing alarm at Covid-19 deaths despite superior healthcare facilities, especially in Tamil Nadu, the Madras high court said the government must ensure quality healthcare for people from all strata of society.

The Tamil Nadu government on Friday announced uniform relaxation of lockdown restrictions and allowed dine-in services in hotels and restaurants and tea shops with 50% occupancy. While Tasmac outlets can operate till 8pm, IT/ ITES companies can operate with 50% workforce, and entertainment and amusement parks will be allowed to operate with 50% cap on visitors across the state from July 5.