There was no reprieve for Tamil Nadu from the coronavirus pandemic ravaging the rest of the country and the world as 600 more persons tested positive on Friday. This took the number of coronavirus patients in the State to 6,009, according to the medical bulletin released by the department of health and family welfare on Friday evening.
In a major development, the Madras High Court on Friday ordered the closure of all TASMAC liquor shops which opened on Thursday after a 45 day close down. But tipplers have been given the liberty to book their brands by online and this would be delivered at their doorsteps. Thursday and Friday saw unprecedented and uncontrollable crowd in front of the liquor shops giving a go by to the norms of social distancing and wearing of face masks.
As has been the pattern for the last one week, Chennai recorded 399 coronavirus positive patients making the total number of persons afflicted with the virus in the metropolis 3,043, the highest in the State. The death toll due to the pandemic reached 40 with three more persons succumbing on Friday.
Though the number of persons testing positive for Covid-19 is increasing by the hour, veteran medical doctors and contagious disease specialists are of the view that there was no need to panic. “The numbers will increase further all over the world and Tamil Nadu cannot remain outside this phenomenon,” said Dr K Kolandasway, who was the director of public health and preventive medicine to the Government of Tamil Nadu till April 30, 2020. After retirement from the office, Dr Kolandaswamy has been working as advisor to the Government on issues related to infectious diseases and pandemic.
Speaking to The Pioneer about the release issued by the Government on Friday, Dr Kolandaswamy, with more than three decades of research and diagnostic experience said the shooting up of the numbers is a blessing in disguise for the people.
“This will help in strengthening the immunity power of the younger as well as older generations. There is no need to be upset or panic because of the present scenario. We have to observe the cardinal rules of the game to tame coronavirus and that is to wear the face mask, wash hands and feet and of course, maintain the social distance,” said Dr Kolandaswamy.