Rising COVID fears: TN depts told to work as one, ready beds & vax

Amid a sharp surge in COVID-19 cases in the State, detection of new clusters, and variants like BA.4 and BA.5, Chief Minister MK Stalin on Saturday instructed officials to keep treatment facilities ready and increase vaccine coverage even as he underlined the need to follow protocols like wearing masks and maintaining social distancing.

In the wake of the emergence of new clusters in Chennai and neighbouring districts, the Chief Minister reviewed the COVID-19 situation and instructed officials of Health, Revenue and Local Administration departments to work in tandem in taking control measures. The meeting, held at the Secretariat, was attended by State Health Minister Ma Subramanian and Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu, among others.

The Chief Minister also ordered officials to test and continuously monitor everyone when a few in a workplace, festivals, marriage halls, or meetings test positive. A release issued by the government said the Chief Minister also advised officials to raise awareness among people on wearing masks, washing hands and maintaining social distance besides ensuring continuous monitoring, conduct of adequate tests and provision of treatment and vaccination.

“Vaccines are the only weapon to win over coronavirus. Government is determined to vaccinate everyone. So far, 93.82 and 82.94 per cent of people have taken first and second vaccine doses in the State, respectively. In Tamil Nadu, 43 lakh people are yet to take their first vaccine dose. About 1.20 crore people have not taken their second vaccine dose. Together, 1.63 crore people in the State are yet to take a vaccine. Hence, the Chief Minister instructed the officials to raise awareness on the importance and benefits of vaccines and make people take vaccines,” it said.

Though the intensity of COVID spread was rising in many states, disease spread recorded in Tamil Nadu has remained low. After Greater Chennai Corporation, disease spread has been observed in Chengalpet, Kancheepuram, Coimbatore and Tiruvallur.

In Chennai, COVID clusters have been recorded in some educational institutions. However, it has been brought under control by comprehensive testing and isolation of positive cases with the cooperation of the institutions, it added.