The expert committee of doctors appointed by the Government of Tamil Nadu said on Saturday that now it was the responsibility of the general public to ensure coronavirus pandemic does not spread.
“The Government is doing whatever it could to prevent and control the disease. But it is for the public to play an important role in preventing the disease from spreading further,” said Dr Prabhdeep Kaur, deputy director, Indian Council of Medical Research (Chennai) while addressing the media after the team’s meeting with Chief Minister and other senior officials of the State.
“This is a new virus and we are yet to study about the pattern of its behaviour. Whatever information we have gathered , we have conveyed to the Government as well as the people. The Covid-19 virus has different characters and it could be understood from the manner it which spreads in various places in Tamil Nadu. The situation in cities and rural areas are different and this is one of the characteristics,” she said.
The ICMR boss said the pandemic could be controlled only by increasing the tests. “It is true that the number of coronavirus cases are increasing in the State. But there is no need to panic. It is also not possible to lift the lockout at one go. It could be done only in phases,” said Dr Kaur. She said Chennai and surrounding districts are having large number of coronavirus patients and hence the region should be put under tight control. Dr V Ram Subramanian, member of the committee, who is a leading specialist in infectious diseases, reiterated the need to wear masks to ward off infection.
“The moment you come out of your house/room, please start wearing masks. Wash your hands frequently. I have seen many people removing the masks while they drive around. This practice has to go. The reason for the increase in the number of patients in Chennai is due to the city’s density of population and close proximity of people,” said Dr Ram Subramanian.
Dr Guhananthan, advisor to Tamil Nadu Government and an authority on public health said it may not be advisable at this juncture to ply public transport including metro rail and buses in Greater Chennai Corporation and surrounding districts because of the increasing number of coronavirus cases.
“The opening of educational institutions and commercial establishements in Chennai and neighbouring districts could be done only slowly and in stages,” he said.
