Tamil Nadu to automate delivery of COVID-19 results

Speaking to reporters after a COVID-19 review meeting in Coimbatore, Vijaya Baskar said the automation of results would commence in another two weeks. “The test results are now declared in 24 hours,” he added.

Though Coimbatore has been recorded nearly 400 cases for more than a week and hospitals filling up fast, the Minister said the recovery rate here was at 78 per cent. He added that aggressive testing was the way ahead for controlling the spread of the pandemic, as has been done in Chennai.

Vijaya Baskar added that the district administration was fully geared up for any eventuality and the district in total has 5,821 bed availability as against 1.79 lakh beds across the State. The Minister said that deaths occur mainly with patients suffering comorbid conditions and urged private hospitals to upgrade their facilities and not to send patients in a critical condition to government hospitals.

Earlier, Vijaya Baskar and Local Administration Minister SP Velumani inaugurated a plasma bank worth Rs 25 lakh at Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) to provide convalescent plasma therapy to infected patients. “Four persons, including a medical student, two military personnel and a photographer of a Tamil daily have come forward to donate their plasma,” he said. The two Ministers inaugurated artificial limb manufacturing centre renovated at a cost of Rs 50 lakh at the hospital. Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan, Collector K Rajamani and CMCH Dean (in-charge) P Kalidas were present.