Pondy CM takes stock of corona situation in Mahe, releases Rs 1 cr

As an immediate measure, the territorial government released Rs 1 crore to the administration of Mahe to procure all the necessary equipment, including masks, to tackle the infection.

He was accompanied by Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao. He and Rao held discussions with the regional administrator of Mahe and also officials of the Health and other departments during the review meeting. Later, the Chief Minister told newsmen in Mahe that the territorial administration was adhering to the Centre’s advisories and implementing steps to contain the spread of the infection.

He said he was pleased with the steps the Mahe administration had taken to combat COVID-19. The Chief Minister said that all the four regions of the UT are vulnerable since the people there are either working or doing business in Singapore, Malaysia, Gulf countries and France. Border health camps were put up here and the passengers entering Puducherry are being screened, he said.

Narayanasamy said the blood samples of 23 people were tested in Puducherry region and all of them tested negative for the infection. Similarly, all 13 people of Karaikal region whose blood samples were examined also tested negative.

He said he and the Health Minister had come to Mahe after the region reported the first positive case in the Union Territory. A 68-year-old woman, who had gone on pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, had returned to Mahe region last week and after confirming through blood test that she had the infection she had been admitted to the isolation ward in the government hospitalin Mahe.

“The patient is stable and showing signs of improvement,” he added. The Chief Minister said the health authorities of Mahe had quarantined the daughter-in-law of the patient and the others who had come into contact with her. “They are being closely watched,” he said.

He said the Mahe region is divided into 15 zones for monitoring purpose and the health staff, ASHA workers and Anganwadi staffs are creating awareness among the people about the virus. The Chief Minister advised to avoid huge gatherings at worship places and in marriages.

All precautionary measures are being taken by coordinating with all the departments of the territorial administration and proper awareness is being created among the public. All poojas and other activities at the Dharbaneswarar temple at Karaikal where thousands of devotees throng on each Saturday stood cancelled till March 31 and only the daily pooja will be conducted.

Meanwhile, parole to all prisoners were cancelled and the Central Prison management had imposed a ban to the relatives of prisoners to meet them in prison until further orders in the wake of the corona scare. Mobile teams have been formed to spread awareness among the people particularly at Palloor in Mahe region where awareness was low. Local legislator N Ramachandran was also present at the review meeting.

Meanwhile, the Puducherry unit of the CPM urged the government to close the wholesale and retail liquor outlets besides arrack shops here to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In a statement, CPM secretary R Rajangam said the Tamil Nadu government had closed down all the liquor outlets. Rajangam urged the CPM workers to involve themselves in creating awareness.