WHO chief scientist stressed on need for early contact tracing: LG

Earlier, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy held a discussion with Soumya Swaminathan. A release said Chief Secretary Aswini Kumar, Health Secretary and Collector Dr T Arun and a team from WHO were present.

Dr Soumya also visited the COVID Control Room here. She was briefed by Control room incharge Pankaj Kumar Jha about the measures taken by the government.

In a Whatsapp post, Bedi said that Soumya in her conversation with her after visiting the COVID control room here said that there should not be any slackening of these and alongside other medical services should also be ensured. She also said that home isolation in small houses does not work as it infects all members and they need a place to be isolated.

She also suggested to take young men and women, who have finished school education, on contract for contact tracing along with para medical staff and others currently deployed and they be trained in the work, the Lt Governor said.

Meanwhile, as many as 305 more persons tested positive for the coronavirus taking the total number of cases to 2,750 and six patients died in the UT in the last 24 hours.

According to the COVID 19 status released by the health department here on Thursday, 254 new cases were reported in Puducherry region, 42 in Karaikal region and 9 in Yanam region. Three persons died in Jipmer, two in GH and one in Yanam GH.