Residents irked as Vellore sans case for 15 days labelled red zone

Fifteen patients out of the 22 positive cases reported in the district in the past tested negative after treatment at the Vellore government medical college hospital and have been sent back home. While the remaining seven patients continue to be under medical care, the district reported one death due to corona infection and the victim was Sadik Basha (45), who succumbed at CMC Hospital. Though there has been no cases for several days, residents could not understand why the district has been placed under the red zone.

JKN Palani, chairman, LIC all India political liaison committee wondered if there was an agenda behind the district not being marked as an orange zone despite no positive case being detected. Palani wondered, “When Salem and Coimbatore with more cases have been moved to the orange zone why Vellore should not be”

When asked about this, Collector A Shanmuga Sundaram said, “It is based on the distance we are from the hotspot - Chennai. That is why, neighbouring districts including, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Ranipet have also been labelled red zones.

Tirupattur, which is more than 200 km away from Chennai, has been kept out.” However, members of Gudiyattam Rotary club who sought anonymity said had the district been brought under the orange zone category, residents would have got some relaxations.

Vellore consumer council federation president K Sathiyamoorthy opined that the residents could turn restive as shopping restrictions in Vellore were more stringent compared to other areas.