New COVID strain: EPS to hold high-level meeting with health experts tomorrow

The high-level meeting at the secretariat will also discuss the safe distribution of Pongal gifts by the state and the inputs of the District Collectors and department HoDs are to be analysed during the meeting. According to informed secretariat sources, Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan will brief the meeting about the preventive measures that has been intensified with a person from UK testing positive for COVID-19. The tracking of the air passengers and their medical conditions will also be discussed. Though there is no need for a knee jerk reaction. The AIADMK leadership is clear that there should not be a second wave of infection as it would adversely affect the prospects of the ruling party during the election campaign. TN has restricted the mass gatherings and the reopening up of educational institutions, Tasmac liquor bars and permission for the political parties for election campaign are to be discussed. 

The health panel committee will also brief the CM on the progress made by the vaccine manufacturers and also discuss the state vaccination programme that is likely to start in about three months. 

“The meeting will also discuss the second outbreak of corona with new strain mutations and the modalities of the action mitigation plan will be worked out with new lockdown measures,” sources said. Relaxation or extension of COVID guidelines will be decided based on the advice of the medical panel and some districts have started reporting corona cases in single digits. 

”The state is trying to take all the possible preventive steps to avoid the spreading and there is a possibility to increase the number of RTPCR test as the political campaign activities had begun,” an informed official source said. 

Law Minister and Villupuram AIADMK strongman C Ve Shanmugham triggered fresh speculation among the AIADMK workers stating that vested interests are trying to freeze the AIADMK ‘two-leaves’ symbol. The minister’s view has triggered political speculations and the cadre were upset with the delay in BJP ccepting our CM Palaniswami as the NDA candidate. There is a threat for the symbol given to us by the party founder MGR and the cadres should be ready for the battle. Whoever it is those affecting the AIADMK should not be spared, Shanmugham told his supporters. This is a do-or-die situation for us, the minister said. “Senior minister Shanmugham always speaks from his heart and this is something for the AIADMK workers and leaders to think over,” AIADMK leader Anwar Rajhaa told reporters.