We did not recommend extending lockdown: Medical experts panel
CHENNAI: Following a meeting Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday, the expert medical committee said that it did not recommend extension of lockdown in the State, as it is not the only solution.
“We did not recommend extending the lockdown in the State. Though it has been helpful in bringing down the transmission in several areas, lockdown is not the only solution. However, public transportation has led to more cases and we recommend restrictions on the same,” said Dr Prabhdeep Kaur, deputy director of the National Institute of Epidemiology-ICMR.
She also stressed on the need for more testing and isolation of patients and their kin. Pointing out that the doubling time of cases has increased in Chennai, which indicates a reduction in the infection, Prabhdeep Kaur said it was a good sign.
“The fever camps and increased testing and isolation of the positive cases have helped in Chennai. Right now, other districts that are seeing a spike including Madurai, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai and Tiruchy should also initiate fever camps as in Chennai,” she added. Even as the number of cases and deaths have increased, the expert committee, including public health experts and infectious diseases experts advised people not to panic and stay indoors. The committee has also given district wise indicators to the government to decide on restrictions.
“The number of positive cases will increase with increased testing, but people need not panic. However, we need to reduce the deaths in the State. We have recommended further increase in testing. So far, about 10,000 tests have been carried out in Chennai and above 32,000 tests in Tamil Nadu,” she said.