Day after attending CM’s function, Tirupattur official tests positive

More than 200 officials from Vellore, who were to participate in the CM’s function, were tested two days before the function. Similarly, representatives of SHGs, industrial organisations and farmers’ associations were also asked to undergo test before the event so that they received the results early enough to decide on their participation.

An industrialist from Ranipet received an SMS that he was negative while at the function while a farmers’ association president was not invited because he had not taken the test, sources said.

However, the same procedure was not followed by Tirupattur officials, as no official other than the Collector was to participate in the Vellore function.

When the CM’s convoy was enroute to Dharmapuri after the function at Vellore, a small reception was accorded to him on the Vellore-Bengaluru national highway at Perumalpet in Vaniyambadi. A Revenue official part of the function, who had given his sample for test on August 19, received information on Friday that he was COVID positive.

As his family members have also tested positive, they would be admitted to Vaniyambadi hospital, said Collector MP Sivan Arul. Asked if he would inform the CM’s entourage about this, he replied: “I was told that the Revenue official came there after visiting the COVID Care Centre at a private college nearby and hence did not participate in the function fully. But I have asked officials to get to the truth of the matter so that action, if any, can be initiated.”