Separate entry, exit in primary health centres for symptomatic patients

“Considering the increase in the number of COVID-19 positive patients in urban pockets of the State, separate entry and exit shall be provided for COVID-19 positive cases in UPHCs to control the spread of the disease,” Chief Secretary K Shanmugam said in an order sent to all Collectors and Corporation Commissioners.

Coronavirus cases are on the rise in the State, with 805 new cases recorded on Monday, including 549 in Chennai alone. In the past week, the State recorded more than 700 cases every day, taking the tally to more than 17,000.

To contain the increasing number of cases, the State government has been taking several measures. Recently, all the government hospitals and health care centres were announced COVID-19 hotspot. Now, the government has directed the administrators to ensure that patients with ailments other than COVID should be given treatment in a different time slot.

“Necessary arrangements may also be made for providing treatment to persons with non-communicable diseases and for antenatal mothers. Disinfectant activities may be strengthened further in UPHCs for effective containment of COVID-19,” Chief Secretary added in the order.

As the lockdown is scheduled to end on May 31, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami is scheduled to hold a meeting with medical experts at the Secretariat on Tuesday. Based on the recommendation by the medical expert team, the Chief Minister would discuss with the expert committee set up by the State government before announcing the decision on lockdown.

In the previous meeting, the medical expert team had suggested phased exit of lockdown. With the COVID cases reaching new heights, the team is expected to recommend the extension of lockdown.