TN ready to tackle next wave: Health Minister

Even as new coronavirus cases are continuing a steady decline in Tamil Nadu, the State Health Department are now gearing up to face a third wave, said Health Minister Ma Subramanian on Friday.

“We are taking all efforts to tackle the third wave when it arrives. We have enough beds in the hospitals across the State. While Tamil Nadu requires around 500 tonnes of oxygen, we have more than sufficient supply. Also, the State is selling Remdesivir for patients in private facilities through government sale centres in Chennai, Coimbatore, Salem, Tiruchy, Madurai and Tirunelveli,” said Minister Subramanian.

As of Thursday, more than 30,000 beds are vacant in various hospitals across the State, he added. So far, the State has received around 1 crore doses of the two vaccines, and nearly 93 lakh doses have been administered.

“Even in rural areas, the people are aware of the vaccines and are getting their doses. Till now, more than two lakh people have been vaccinated today. On Thursday, the State has received around 50,000 doses of Covaxin from the central government, and they have been distributed to all the districts,” the Minister added.

According to the Health Minister, 670 cases of mucormycosis have been reported so far in Tamil Nadu. The state has received 1,790 doses of Amphotericin, used in treating the fungal infection, from the Centre. The State government has sought more than 3,000 doses from the Centre, Subramanian said.