On a day when a team of medical experts recommended to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami to extend the lockdown by 14 days beyond April 14, the state recorded a further 77 positive cases.
Briefing journalists after a meeting with the Chief Minister, Dr. Prabhdeep Kaur of ICMR National Institute of Epidemiology said: “Despite all the efforts taken by the government, cases have been increasing... During the past week, cases have been increasing. All the experts feel that it would be good if the lockdown is extended for 14 more days. This is the recommendation of the Committee." The cabinet which is meeting on Saturday might take a call on the issue soon.
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On Friday, Tamil Nadu’s tally of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases surged to 911, with the 77 fresh cases. A woman, who had tested positive for
Till date, a total of 44 persons, who had tested positive for COVID-19, were discharged after treatment from hospitals across the State.
Chief Secretary K. Shanmugam told reporters that five of the 77 patients were persons with a history of travel, and the remaining 72 were contacts of those with a history of travel. All 77 were only from areas that had already been contained.
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Of the fresh cases, 70 were connected to the “single source event” (Delhi conference), according to the bulletin issued by the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine.
Coimbatore reported the highest number of cases with 26 persons - 21 women and five men - testing positive. Twelve persons, including nine women, from Chengalpet, nine persons each in Chennai and Ranipet, eight from Dindigul, three each from Nilgiris and Villupuram, two each from Erode and Tuticorin, and one each from Cuddalore, Kanyakumari and Tiruvannamalai have reported positive.
“Our main aim is to control the spread of COVID-19. Measures such as the lockdown are to achieve this. We are taking intensive measures to ensure that new COVID-19 positive cases do not occur outside quarantine or containment zones,” he said.
All family members of COVID-19 positive persons are being tested for the infection, and this would be completed within two days. Their contacts would be isolated, checked for symptoms and further action would be taken as per protocols, he said, adding: “The Chief Minister has instructed that all family members should be tested again.”
“We hope that the number of positive cases will come under control once all contacts are tested for COVID-19,” he added.
SARI monitoring
Persons hospitalised with severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) are being monitored on a daily basis across Tamil Nadu. “This is to check if there is community spread of COVID-19. In the last 24 hours, a total of 71 persons were tested. Five results are pending, and none of the remaining persons have tested positive for COVID-19,” he added.
23 with unidentified source
As per Thursday’s data, the source of infection for 23 persons, who have tested positive for COVID-19, could not be established and confirmed. “However, we can tell indirectly. For instance, there are two or three patients who have visited Phoenix Mall. There is a contact but we are unable to confirm it. Apart from the 23 persons, there is no case where we have not been able to zero in on the source,” he said.
He said as per the statistics, the State was still in phase-2 of COVID-19 transmission. “We have not progressed to phase-3. In that, there will be numerous cases with unidentifiable sources of infection,” he said.
The rapid test kits should have reached the State on Thursday night, he said, adding: “The Centre has got a purchase order and has informed us it would supply a part of the order for us. We will get the kits in a day or two.”
On availability of protective gear, he said, “As soon as the outbreak in China in January, the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation started preparatory works to procure medical equipment. We are not dependent on the Centre for supply of personal protective equipment. We have roped in manufacturers in Tiruppur and are directly purchasing from them. This is the same for triple layer masks. We are directly procuring ventilators as well. We have asked the Centre too but we are taking efforts from our side. We have placed orders for testing kits too,” he explained.
He added that the State has received Rs. 314 crore from the National Health Mission for tackling COVID-19.
He said that Rs. 234 crore - Rs. one crore from Member of Legislative Assembly Constituency Development Fund - would be utilised for procuring medical equipment, and a government order would be issued soon.
Mr. Shanmugam added that doctors - both in the private and government sectors - were instructed to utilise protective equipment including N95 masks and PPE while screening patients with fever or symptoms of SARI. “A few doctors have tested positive for COVID-19 without knowing that they were screening patients with symptoms and did not take care to protect themselves,” he said.
A total of 8,410 samples were tested till date, an increase of 1,143 from Thursday. Of this, 661 samples were under process. A total of 1,987 persons are admitted to isolation ward.
Chennai topped the list with 172 cases followed by Coimbatore with 86 cases. As on date, 47,056 persons were under active home quarantine, while 168 persons were in government quarantine facilities.