Ma Su urges public not to neglect COVID symptoms
Health Minister Ma Subramanian visited the COVID-19 patients and inspected the contact tracing at a cluster area identified in the Adyar Zone of the Greater Chennai Corporation. He visited the patients in home isolation and enquired about their health.
The Health Minister said the number of COVID-19 cases is rising worldwide and about 7-8 states in the country have reported 1,000 to 5,000 infections in the last 24 hours. The daily numbers are rising from 80,000 to 1 lakh in several countries.
As per the instructions of the Chief Minister, measures have been taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and an inspection of various districts including Salem and Namakkal was conducted recently. Consultations were held with the health officials in those districts regarding preventive measures.
He said the Greater Chennai Corporation officials are intensifying the preventive measures because as per reports, 50 per cent of the total daily cases in Tamil Nadu is in Chennai alone. In Chennai, more than three people are affected in 112 streets and more than 5 people in 25 streets. A total of 2,225 people are suffering from COVID-19 and getting treated in Chennai today. Of these, 92 per cent are in home isolation.
“On behalf of the state health department, the officials are contacting the isolated people on the phone to inquire about their health, and daily field workers visit the homes of those infected and check their oxygen levels. As many as 1,800 field workers are involved and those being treated at hospitals are being supervised by the state health department officials. Of the 8 per cent being treated in hospitals, about five per cent are admitted in hospitals since they do not have adequate facilities in their homes. Most of them have symptoms such as fever, cold, cough, sore throat and headache.
Pointing out the pandemic spread through educational institutions earlier, the Health Minister said if school-going students develop minor symptoms, parents should contact the health officials so that they can be tested. If not affected they can be sent back to school. But, if one child is infected and skips the test, he/she can infect hundreds of other children. Small steps can help contain the virus, and for that tests should be conducted without neglecting the symptoms. Therefore, parents are asked to provide full cooperation in this regard,” he added.