DMK govt failed to take preventive measures to curb COVID: OPS, EPS

CHENNAI: Former chief ministers O Panneerselvam and Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday alleged that the state had failed to take adequate preventive measures for controlling coronavirus.

In separate statements, the AIADMK leaders said that there were several violations of the standard operating procedures required for curtailing the spread of COVID-19. Leader of the Opposition Palaniswami pointed out that there was an acute shortage of pulse oxymeters in the state and urged the DMK government to increase the number of testing centres for the Omicron variant of coronavirus.

“The previous AIADMK government focused on massive fumigation and desanitisation works and spraying of bleaching powder was visible across the state in 2020 and 2021,” Panneerselvam said. The former government identified the vulnerable spots, conducted regular distribution of kabasura kudineer and door to door basic medicines. These measures helped the state government to bring down the spread of COVID-19. But, the current DMK government had failed to take up preventive measures. The state had recorded more than 17,000 corona cases and the spread of Omicron variant is rampant in Chennai infecting more than 5,000 people spread over 39,673 streets, OPS said demanding regular desanitisation drives.

Earlier, the government offices and public transport buses were sanitised regularly during Saturdays and weekends, this practice is also not followed now. Further, the COVID test result period is taking more than two to three days, OPS said seeking the urgent intervention of Chief Minister MK Stalin on the issue. The statement also urged the state to prevent water stagnation and take up fumigation works across the state.