Health Secretary writes to Collectors, GCC officials about increase in cases

With subsequent clusters mushrooming in educational institutions across the State and cases increasing in other parts of the country, Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan instructed the Greater Chennai Corporation officials and district Collectors to intensify the COVID-19 preventive strategy.

In a letter to all the district Collectors, he expressed concern over the higher numbers being recorded in places like Mumbai and Maharashtra, New Delhi, Kerala and, also the steady but definite increase in Chennai (Adyar, Teynampet, Anna Nagar, Perungudi and Kodambakkam among other zones) and neighbouring districts Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur.

Writing that it’s a public health concern that apart from small institutional clusters, he stated, “We’re also getting few contact positives out of people contacting it after attending functions thus having family clusters. So far, there has been no significant increase in hospitalisation but if the increase in numbers is not checked, and those with co-morbidities and the elderly start getting affected, it may be a concern.”

He added that the rise in cases was an indirect pointer to the need that immunity levels are waning making the community susceptible for variants, sub variants and lineages.

The Health Secretary also emphasised on vaccination against COVID-19 and said that despite over 93.74% first dose and over 82.55% second dose vaccination levels among those above 18 and above, around 43 lakh persons are yet to take first dose in all eligible age groups, and more than 1.22 crore persons are yet to take second dose.

There are about 13 lakh eligible people for free booster dose who have not yet taken the vaccine.

He stressed that authorities should make an effort to make sure that eligible persons get vaccinated. Those with symptoms should not be ignored, and must not attend functions or offices and make others vulnerable. They’re, instead, instructed to test themselves, isolate till results come and if positive, get treated at home or in hospital depending on clinical needs. The elderly with co-morbidities will continue to be vulnerable and thus, mask should be used in crowded, closed places, where risk of infection is high.