More than 17,000 screened across State for coronavirus

Currently, 1,603 people across the State are under home quarantine as a precautionary measure to ensure effective surveillance against coronavirus in Tamil Nadu. “All the passengers who are in home quarantine in New Delhi have also been tested and a total of 83 samples have been tested. Out of 36 samples that have been tested at the Kings Institute of Preventive Medicine and Research, 32 samples have resulted negative, while the results of four samples are awaited,” said the Health Secretary.

The State health department currently has a stock of more than three lakh masks and 6,880 personal protective equipment available. A team of doctors along with the head of department of all government hospitals, additional directors and doctors are undertaking inspection of isolation wards at government hospitals to check on the surveillance, protocol adherence and other awareness programmes.

The Health Secretary said that the mortality rate of coronavirus is about 2 per cent and only if there are co-morbid health issues and immunity problems, the health related complications are more. The government and private schools, colleges and private hospitals are also undertaking awareness programmes on prevention of coronavirus after the advisory by the State government. The department has also issued alert in the five districts neighbouring Kerala and the healthcare officials are inspecting preparatory measures taken at the government hospitals in those districts.