R. ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, APRIL 28
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami said easing curbs beyond May 3 hinges on a dip in numbers of COVID-19 here on Tuesday.
தமிழ்நாட்டில் கொரோனா வைரஸ் பரவாமல் தடுக்க பல்வேறு துறைகளின் மூலம் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டு வரும் தொடர் பாதுகாப்பு நடவடிக்கைகளை கண்காணிக்க ஏற்படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ள 12 குழுக்களுடன் இன்று, தலைமைச் செயலகத்தில் ஆய்வு மேற்கொண்டேன். pic.twitter.com/krpc7Gmj8H
— CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) April 28, 2020
Presiding over a review meeting of top officials at the Secretariat, the Chief Minister said coronavirus cases in the state were on the rise as people have a casual attitude towards norms like social-distancing and did not understand the gravity of the contagion.
“The problem lies in the vegetable markets of big corporations like Chennai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli, and Madurai. Despite telling people (on precautions to be taken against COVID-19 like social distancing), they do not follow it and think of it casually. They don’t understand the intensity and impact of this disease,” he said.
Underscoring that Tamil Nadu was still in the early stages, unlike some nations which were witnessing the full-blown spread of the virus, he said, “when we take appropriate steps, the spread of the contagion can be easily halted if people give their full cooperation.”
If such support was not extended, the State may not be able to rein in the spread of the infection even if other nations manage to control it, he said. “Hence, people should follow the government imposed curbs understanding the gravity of this disease (COVID-19). Police and local administration departments should take up the street to street propaganda using public address system fitted vehicles and create awareness among them,” he said.
Lockdown has been eased in countries like China, Italy, and Spain as norms like social-distancing, avoiding congregations, and personal hygiene were strictly followed there, he said.
“Since these (norms) were not followed in our regions, the number of cases are on the rise and you must make people realise it,” he said, apparently hinting that easing of lockdown norms beyond May 3 was dependent on a dip in numbers in the State, which is again linked to effective toeing of norms like social-distancing.
The number of COVID-19 infected patients crossed the grim 2,000 marks with 121 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, Palaniswami said the infections were on the rise as people have a casual attitude towards tackling the contagion.
A 68-year-old man died here of COVID-19, the 25th fatality, and with 121 more people testing positive, the aggregate number of those infected in Tamil Nadu so far climbed to 2,058, authorities said.
A government bulletin said the 68-year-old man was admitted to a private hospital here and succumbed to the illness caused by coronavirus today.
Among the newly infected were a five-day-old baby girl and children ranging from a seven-month-old toddler to a nine-year-old boy. Two city police personnel and a flower vendor at the Koyambedu market here were also among the newly infected.
While 27 people were discharged following treatment at various hospitals in the state, the aggregate number of people recovered so far was 1,128, the bulletin said, adding that the number of active cases stood at 902. Six Thai nationals were discharged from a hospital in Erode district and shifted to Chennai. Of the 121 new cases, 103 were from Chennai, taking the count in the State capital to 673, and Krishnagiri continued to be the sole green district with no cases. As many as 6,850 people were tested today and cumulatively 93,189 people have undergone testing.
Greater Chennai Corporation authorities deployed a mobile testing van at the Koyambedu market and also deputed health professionals who took throat and nasal swab samples from traders and vendors.
While disinfection work was carried out across Tamil Nadu, it was done twice in containment zones. On the lockdown front, a total of 3,26,645 FIRs have so far been filed for violations across Tamil Nadu and a fine of Rs 3.40 crore levied, a release here said. Also, 2,93,193 vehicles, including cars and two-wheelers have been seized.
The arrest of people for alleged brewing illicit liquor continued in several districts. District Collectors, along with Police Superintendents inspected regions under their jurisdiction to ensure implementation of lockdown norms and disinfection work in containment zones. Pushcarts were allowed to vend vegetables while groceries and all other kinds of shops and commercial establishments were closed for the third consecutive day of complete lockdown in Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem, and Tirupur.
