Night lockdown to be implemented in TN?, Stalin to chair crucial meeting


Chennai: Chief Minister M K Stalin is chairing a high-level meet at the Secretariat today, to take stock of the rising Covid-19 cases in the State and the Omicron variant threat.

Sources said night curfew and other restrictions are likely to be implemented in Tamilnadu and a decision in this regard will be taken at the meeting.

It is to be noted that Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has written to Tamilnadu Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan over the rising number of cases of Covid and Omicron in Chennai.

He stated that Chennai has reported sudden and significant rise in the cases and the issue needs to be addressed proactively and immediately to ensure that there is no spread and increase in the mortality due to late detection of the cases.

He also sought district-level action, including implementation of restrictions based on granular evidence. He asked the State to enhance surveillance of international travellers, send all positive samples for genome sequencing, continuously monitor hot spots, and review health infrastructure preparedness.

The Union Health Secretary also advised that immediate measures be taken to ensure enhanced testing, proactive contact tracing, testing with isolation or quarantine of infectees’ contacts, and enforcement of appropriate restrictions.