Allow sample testing without prescription, says Kamal

In a statement, Haasan said many people with the symptoms were not able to meet the doctors and they were not able to ascertain whether they have infection or not. “We have been insisting on widespread testing but the failure to do that has led to creation of the perception that the infection was more in Chennai and families fled the city in safety in June. The increase in the COVID-19 cases in the districts was mainly due to failure of the State government,” he said.

He urged the State government to allow people with the COVID symptoms to approach testing centres without waiting for the doctor’s prescription, which would avoid crowding at the hospital. “Such a system has been adopted in Mumbai from Tuesday,” he noted.

The actor-turned politician also urged the government to reach out to the people in their homes and perform tests after taking all precautions. “This would prevent crowding in hospitals. Like Delhi, the government can reduce the cost of testing, too,” he added. He warned that the delay by the government in this regard would only result life loss of people and livelihood.