Thiruvananthapuram:  Health Minister Veena George said that people with lifestyle diseases like hypertension and diabetes should wear masks to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The health department is carefully and cautiously assessing the covid situation in the state. The health department has been holding regular meetings and intensively carrying out prevention activities.

 The number of covid patients is increasing slightly but there is no need to worry. There was no significant increase in hospitalizations, ICU, and ventilator use. The elderly, children, pregnant women, and those with lifestyle diseases like diabetes and hypertension need care. Therefore, the minister said that these people should wear masks. The Minister was inaugurating a seminar organized by the Health Department in Thiruvananthapuram in connection with World Health Day.

The Minister congratulated and thanked all the health workers who are dedicatedly working to ensure the health of the public and individuals.

Thiruvananthapuram:  The Meteorological Center has informed us that there is a chance of heavy rain with thunder and lightning at isolated places in the state on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Strong wind speed of 30 to 40 kmph is also likely on April 15 and 16. Therefore, the Central Meteorological Department said to be cautious.

  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Research Center has advised fishermen and coastal residents to be cautious due to the possibility of high waves.

 Kochi: 5 people, including 3 women, have been arrested in the case of beating up a young man naked, taking a video and threatening to extort money.  The incident happened at Mulavukad in Kochi.  Apart from stealing the youth’s money, the gang also took the ATM cards.

 Anju, a native of Tamil Nadu’s Tenkasi, her sister Mary, Mary’s friends Vennala Ashiq, Ashiq’s wife Shahana, and Arun, a native of Mattancherry, were caught by the Mulavukad police.

Thiruvananthapuram: The upper age limit for appointment of assistant professors in various universities, government and aided colleges in the state has been increased to 50 years. The government has issued an order in this regard. One of the key recommendations of the Higher Education Reforms Commission chaired by Shyam B Menon is being implemented. The order applies to arts colleges, training colleges, law colleges, Sanskrit colleges and various universities in the state.

 At present the age limit for appointment of teachers in universities and colleges is forty years. But the UGC norms applicable to teacher appointments do not prescribe an upper age limit. In this regard, the decision has been taken by considering the report given by the Director of College Education and the recommendation of the State Council of Higher Education to waive the upper age limit for college teacher appointments.

 Appropriate amendments will be made in the Collegiate Education Special Rules as per the order. The respective universities will make the necessary amendment in the university statutes. Higher Education Minister R Bindu has informed that the universities have been asked to take steps to amend the university rules as per the UGC rules to completely avoid the upper age limit for direct recruitment to the posts of associate professor and professor in the universities.