e-pass being continued asper experts’ advice: Ministers

“States like Kerala and Andhra Pradesh were severely hit by the second spell of COVID. The number of daily cases in Kerala has crossed 1,300 while it is about 10,000 in Andhra Pradesh. We cannot let that happen in TN,” Jayakumar told reporters after the COVID-19 review meeting at Corporation headquarters.

Responding to a query on why TN continues to insist on the e-pass even after the Centre has withdrawn it, he said that the public should travel only if there is a valid reason for it.

Municipal and Rural Development Minister SP Velumani, who chaired the review meeting, said that the decision to continue the e-pass system was taken based on the recommendation of the expert committee of doctors. “We have issued 1.89 lakh e-passes in Chennai. The CM has directed to provide relaxation in the issue of the e-pass. It is the opinion of the expert committee that the restriction on the movement of the public should continue,” he added.

To a question on increasing cases in Tondiarpet and Manali zones of the city Corporation, Jayakumar said that it was a false claim. “In Ward 48 in Tondiarpet zone, the number of cases peaked to 269 in June has come down to 126 in July and it is three cases this month so far,” he said.

Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar said that Chennai has become a model for other cities to control the spread of the coronavirus. “The doubling time of COVID-19 has gone up to 65 days in the city. In some zones, it has gone up over 100 days,” he said.