Chennai: Data collected by the Tamilnadu unit of Indian Medical Association has revealed that twenty doctors in the State have succumbed to the coronavirus since March.
As per the data, among the deceased doctors, most of them were general medical practitioners from Chennai, Madurai and other southern districts. The number of deaths was lower in the western districts of the State.
According to IMA State secretary AK Ravikumar, doctors above the age of 50 are more vulnerable. “In the list, the youngest doctor to succumb to coronavirus was a 43-year-old man. All the other doctors are aged over 50,” he said.
Meanwhile, with a few social media users, including DMK youth wing secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin, posting that more doctors have died in Tamilnadu due to Covid-19 when compared to other States, the government has refuted the claim and issued a warning.
“Legal action will be taken against whoever spreads rumours or shares unverified news on social media, creating panic and confusion among people during the pandemic,” said Health Minister Dr C Vijayabaskar.
Speaking to the media, he added: “This is highly condemnable. The State Indian Medical Association has also clarified that this was unverified data.”
He also condemned Udhayanidhi’s tweet in which he had shared data from social media that 43 doctors in Tamilnadu had died owing to Covid.