Spread of COVID-19 in TN largely under control, says CM EPS

The spread of COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu is “largely under control” due to the implementation of various government guidelines, but the contagion is “easily” spreading in Chennai due to its large population, Chief Minister K Palaniswami said on Wednesday (April 29).

Palaniswami, who indicated resuming manufacturing in the Green Zones, also regretted the fact that people were not strictly following social distancing norms and urged the respective district administrations to ensure this principle is adhered to.

Addressing a review meeting on coronavirus with District Collectors, he appreciated the officials for leading the fight against the pandemic and said the government’s measures in stemming its spread has largely borne fruit due to their efforts.

In a separate statement, he announced updated containment plans for the severely affected zones, which included constituting special teams under IAS officers to monitor the anti-virus measures and increasing the samples for COVID-19 testing.

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“Barring Chennai, the spread is largely under control in other districts,” he said in his address to the collectors and credited them for strictly enforcing various guidelines in the fight against the deadly virus.

“Chennai is a big city. More people reside here. Further, many visit the city. Moreover, there are narrow streets where a large population lives and due to this, the virus easily spreads from one person to another. This is the reason for the increased spread of the disease here,” he said.

As on Tuesday (April 28), the state capital has the highest number of COVID-19 positive cases in the state — 673 out of the 2,058. Incidentally, of the 121 fresh cases reported on Tuesday, the city had 103 infections.

Palaniswami said that irrespective of an area being a city or rural one, the pandemic can be controlled if the government guidelines were strictly implemented and lauded the Collectors for doing so with the aim of contolling the spread.

The district heads were diligently implementing the government’s various measures, including availability of essential commodities, even as the coordinated work of various departments like Health, Police and Revenue, among others, had helped prevent the spread, he said.

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However, social distancing was not being strictly followed by the people, especially in ration shops and vegetable markets and the officials should ensure it was duly followed, he said.

Compared to the struggles of many developed nations and super powers, the state was ensuring better delivery of public services, including on the food front, he said.

The flagship Amma Canteens, which are providing free meals to the needy and poor, was proof of this, even as migrant workers living here, among others, were being taken good care of.

The police should ensure nobody enters or exits a containment zone, he added.

On resuming or starting businesses, Palaniswami said the government would advise Collectors accordingly on allowing such activities in the respective green zones. Those industries that could be given the green signal include cement, sugar, sago, steel and medical equipment, as allowed by the Centre, the Chief Minister added.

Proper cleaning and maintenance of public toilets, strict implementation of all ongoing lockdown norms and keeping an eye on border districts were the other points stressed by Palaniswami as part of the virus control plan.

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Efforts should be to turn the Red zones in the state to Orange, while the latter should become Green and normalcy across the state should be ensured gradually, the Chief Minister told the officials.

According to the governments virus hotspot categorisation, Red Zone denotes over 15 cases or those with a doubling time of less than four days while the Orange means districts with less than 15 infections. Green Zones are those with no new cases in the last 28 days.

As of April 28, Krishnagiri district is the only Green Zone in Tamil Nadu, of the total 37 districts in the state. As many as seven are categorised as Orange, while the rest, including Chennai, are listed as Red Zone.

Later, in a statement, Palaniswami said he has also asked the collectors to send detailed reports on phased opening of industries in the respective districts based on the prevailing containment situation.

Further, he announced updated containment plans for the respective zones, including in Chennai.

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Special field teams have been constituted under IAS officers, including senior district police officers and these will be involved in completely curtailing public movement in the containment zones, ensuring basic needs of the families therein and expediting testing.

The teams will be deployed in the Corporations limits of Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruppur and Salem.

Random sampling method will be used to test more persons in areas inhabited by infected persons, while mobile testing units here will be increased from three to to 10, he said.

Homes in containment zones will be provided with hand sanitizer, masks and 250 grams disinfectant each, besides the kabasura concoction to boost immunity.

Strengthening of contact tracing and investigating procedures should also be done, the Chief Minister said.

Monitoring the health status of elders, diabetics, differently abled and pregnant women in containment zones should be done and necessary assistance provided to them, he said.

The government will also ensure quarantine zones for those unable to isolate themselves, especially the poor, the chief minister added.