Chennai: With 23 districts reporting zero Covid-19 cases from 22 April and with the number of recoveries constantly overtaking that of the affected persons on a daily basis, the Tamilnadu government, at last, is planning staggered exit from the lockdown that is in place from the last week of March.
Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami today held a review meeting with 40 IAS officials at the Secretariat here.
These officials are part of the 12 special teams constituted by the State government to monitor the coronavirus precaution and relief works.
Sources said that the discussions were focussed around the availability of essentials in various parts of the States due to the lockdown.
It is also said that the key aspects of Palaniswami’s interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during video conferencing Monday was also discussed with the officials. Health Minister C Vijayabaskar, Health Secretary Beela Rajesh were also present during the meeting. Tomorrow, the Chief Minister will hold a similar meeting with District Collectors through video conferencing.
It is said that the State government is planning to ease restrictions in districts where there are no new cases in a phased manner and modalities are being worked out.
On Monday evening, the number of coronavirus cases in Tamilnadu swelled to 1,937, with 52 more people testing positive, while the death toll remained at 24.
A bulletin issued by the Health and Family Welfare department here said of the 52 fresh cases (33 men and 19 women), Chennai continued to record a maximum of 47 cases, followed by Madurai (four) and an one-year-old male infant in Villupuram.
Of the total 1,937 cases, 1,312 were men and 625 women. This included 111 in 0-12 age group (60 men/51 women), 1,600 in 13-60 age group (1093/507) and 226 above 60 years of age (159/67).
While the total positive cases was about 2.2 per cent, no deaths were reported today as it remained at 24, which was 1.2 per cent of the total cases.
Once again, the encouraging factor was that the number of recovery cases in the State was higher than the positive cases reported.
A total number of 81 people, who have tested positive, were on Monday discharged, as the number of cured patients increased to 1,101, taking the recovery rate to about 58 per cent.
This included 34 in Chennai (2 hospitals), 26 in Coimbatore, 10 in Sivaganga, six in Villuppuram, two in Tuticorin and one in Theni. Two others, who underwent treatment in private hospitals were also discharged on Monday, taking the numbers to 81.
Please cooperate: EPS
Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami today requested people to cooperate with the government to control the spread of coronavirus.
“Some people have not understood the seriousness yet,” he said and expressed disappointment that social distancing was not being followed at market places.
He urged officials to increase awareness measures. The Chief Minister made these comments when the Chennai and other parts of the State entered third day of the four-day total lockdown.