As the number of persons in the State tested positive for coronavirus reached 1075 by Sunday evening, Government of Tamil Nadu has launched an aggressive testing and containment programme to restrict the disease in stage-2 itself, according to Beela Rajesh, Secretary, health and family welfare department.
With 106 persons tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday, the Government increased the number of laboratories in the State where the virus could be tested. “From Sunday onwards, testing could be done in 14 Government laboratories and nine private laboratories. The Central Government owned JIPMER medical college and hospital at Puducherry too would serve as a center for testing samples from Tamil Nadu,” said Beela Rajesh , herself a medical doctor by training.
Out of the 106 persons testing positive on Sunday, 90 are from the single source event held at Delhi and 16 are those who associated with them. The spurt in the number of patients getting admitted to hospitals with coronavirus case has forced the Government to take some more drastic measures. On Sunday two more persons succumbed to the dreaded virus taking the death toll in the State to 11.
The Government on Sunday warned volunteers, NGOs and political parties distributing cooked foods to the homeless and needy in violation of section 144. A Government order in this regard asked the concerned persons to donate the money they spent to Chief Minister’s Relief Fund or hand over the food to Chennai Corporation authorities for distribution among the needy.
The disinfectant tunnels which created a sensation all over the State will no longer be allowed anywhere in Tamil Nadu. The Department of Health by a special Government order asked the officials not to install disinfectant tunnels citing a world health organisation directive which stated that such tunnels would create a false sense of security and people may be diverted from handwash to disinfection tunnel.