Chennai: With the lockdwon in the State entering the second day, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami today held a meeting with all the District Collectors about preventive measures taken to control the spread of coronavirus.
He interacted with the officials via video conferencing from the Secretariat today. Sources said that Palaniswami enquired about the present status of each district and also sought suggestions to things to be done in the coming days.
Palaniswami has been holding meetings with top officials ever since the outbreak of the virus in the State. Yesterday morning he interacted with top officials including Chief Secretary, Secretaries of all departments and DGP. Later in the evening, he addressed the public during which he appealed to them to get united irrespective of caste, creed, religion and language, to fight unitedly and drive out the deadly coronovirus, which has claimed thousands of lives globally.
Beginning his televised address that he was speaking not as Chief Minister but as a member of the family of the people of the State, he said, at a time when the State entered into the 21-day lockdown mode, people should take a pledge to safeguard Tamilnadu from the deadly virus, which was spreading like wildfire across the world and protect the welfare of the people of the State.
“Stay alert, stay away and stay in home and strictly follow the orders issued by the government”, he said sending a clear message to the people to remain indoors, while adopting social distancing. Warning those violating government orders and spreading baseless rumours about the virus, of legal action by the district Collectors and police Commissioner, the Chief Minister, while appealing for cooperation from the people, also urged those with diabetes, high blood pressure to take regular medicines, besides taking care of elders, children and pregnant women.
Urging the people to follow social distancing by maintaining three feet distance while coming out of their houses, he also urged those with symptoms of severe cold, fever and breathing problems not to resort to self medication and approach the doctors or the hospital for proper treatment, besides using the helplines set up by the government.
Recalling the Rs 3,780 crore special package announced by him for various sections of the people, including the Rs 1,000 special assistance to all the cardholders of the State and free ration items for the month of April, he said it was a compulsion of time that the 21-day curfew announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has to be strictly adopted, while allaying the fears of the people on the availability of essentials.