With 149 +ve cases, Corpn seals 67 cluster containment zones

As part of the containment zones, the corporation has been putting up temporary barricades in the streets immediately close to the residence of the COVID-19 positive person to restrict movement in and out of these areas.

Chennai has 110 COVID-19 cases on Monday but it went up to 149 after 39 new cases were reported on Tuesday. According to the corporation, Royapuram zone has a maximum of 22 clusters with 27 cases followed by Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar which has 14 cases with 11 clusters. The clusters were identified based on the cases reported until Monday. 

In a Twitter thread on ‘COVID-19 containment plan in Chennai’, Regional Deputy Commissioner (South) Alby John Varghese explained various steps taken by the civic body from perimeter control to contact tracing and mass disinfection. “Temporary barricades are being put in the streets immediately close to the reported COVID-19 positive houses and influx and efflux of vehicles are restricted.

Also, it is ensured that there is no scarcity of necessary provisions,” he tweeted. He wrote that all the possible contacts of the patients are identified and listed. “They are asked to be on hospital quarantine and also tested for #COVID2019. They are shifted to the hospitals through designated 108 ambulances which are exclusively used for this,” he tweeted.

The civic body also taken up mass active surveillance to check 2,500 houses around for COVID-19 symptoms on a daily basis through the health workers. It has been expanded to all the households in the city. “Mike announcements are done in the entire containment zone and the buffer zone explaining the symptoms of #COVID2019, the preventive steps to be taken and on what to do if one develops the symptoms,” he tweeted explaining the passive surveillance. 

Meanwhile, a Corporation official said about 3,300 people who visited Phoenix mall at Velachery did not show any signs of COVID-19. After three workers of Lifestyle stores in the mall tested positive, the corporation had urged all the people who visited the mall, especially, the showroom between March 10 and 17 and all workers at the mall to stay cautious and seek medical care if they develop any symptoms.