R. ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, MAY 5
A day after the state saw its biggest single day spike of over 500 cases, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday asserted that the rise is due to higher testing and assured migrant workers that the government would arrange trains in a week for those wishing to return to their home states.
In his address to the people over television, the Chief Minister said “Daily about 12,000 people are being tested and only due to such a high number of tests is the number of those turning positive also on the rise,” he said.
The Chief Minister said only Tamil Nadu has as high as 50 labs for conducting COVID-19 tests and added that the number of people being test has also been increased.
Hence, the public need not fear over more people testing positive as anti-COVID-19 initiatives were being pursued on all fronts, he said.
On guest workers, he said in a week, government would arrange trains for those who wish to go back their home states. Since work has resumed in factories and construction sites, following easing of curbs, those who wished to stay back may do so, he said.
In the biggest single-day surge in the state so far, Tamil Nadu on Monday reported 527 new COVID-19 cases, a large number of them linked to the Koyambedu market here, taking the tally to 3,550.
The Chief Minister appeals the people to cooperate with the government by following the preventive measures such as social distancing at provision stores/vegetable shops, wearing masks while stepping out of houses and cleaning hands with often with folded hands.
Free ration to all ration card holders will continue in June
The Chief Minister also announced that the free ration including rice, dhal and cooking oil will continue during June also. Besides this, he also said that the Amma Canteens and Community kitchens are taking care of the poor during lock down.
TN reports 500 plus COVID-19 cases for second straight day; death toll increased to 33
The number of coronavirus cases in Tamil Nadu continued its upward trend on Tuesday, going past the 500 mark for a second consecutive day as the total infections crossed 4,000.
Two deaths were reported, taking the toll from the deadly virus in the state to 33, a Health Department bulletin said.
With 508 new patients on Tuesday, the cumulative tally stood at 4,058 and the active cases at 2,537, it said.
Chennai remained at the top among the 37 districts, as it recorded 279 of the fresh cases, taking its total to 2008, followed by Cuddalore (229 cases) with 68 additions. A city-based 56 year-old man with comorbidities and a woman aged 60 became the latest fatalities at the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital. They were admitted to the hospital on April 26 and May 2, respectively, the bulletin added.
So far, 1,74,828 samples have been taken for testing. COVID-19 tests were being done in 36 government and 16 private labs all over the state, it said.
With the number of cases showing a steady increase, the government asked the general public to adhere to health and travel advisories issued by it.
“Public should follow the cough etiquette by covering the face using handkerchief/towel while sneezing/ coughing. Do frequent hand washing with soap and water,” the bulletin said.
TN gives nod for treatment at home for people with mild symptoms
Meanwhile, the state government has approved a proposal for treating people who test positive for coronavirus at their respective residences if they have very mild symptoms and issued separate guidelines for it.
It has been decided to accept a proposal of the Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine for home isolation of those who test positive and have “very mild” symptoms or are “pre-symptomatic,” a Government Order (GO) said.
For treatment at home, the person diagnosed for COVID-19 should be “clinically assigned as a very mild case / pre-symptomatic case by the treating medical officer,” the GO said.
Such people should have requisite facility at their residence for self-isolation and also for quarantining the family contacts.
Availability of a well-ventilated single-room preferably with an attached or separate toilet and the availability of a care giver all the time are among the eligibility norms prescribed by the government.
“A communication link between the caregiver and hospital is a prerequisite for the entire duration of home isolation.”
The caregiver and all close contacts of such patients should take Hydroxychloroquine as a prophylaxis besides preparations including multivitamins as per protocol and as prescribed by the treating medical officer.
Immediate medical attention must be sought if serious signs or symptoms develop including persistent cough, pain/pressure in the chest, continuous fever, difficulty in breathing, mental confusion, seizures and decreased urine output.
All suspected (awaiting test results) and confirmed cases of COVID-19 are currently being isolated and managed in a hospital setting.
Also, authorities have said that facilities like colleges and others that are designated as ”Covid care centres, ‘are set to be used for asymptomatic people who test positive for the contagion.
Several people who have tested positive for the virus here and in other parts of the state have very mild or no symptoms, the authorities said.
