COVID-19 in TN: Lockdown in 4 Districts Including Chennai Begins, Minister Contracts Infection Signalling Lapses in Preventive Measures

The government of Tamil Nadu has announced a 12-day lockdown in four districts including Chennai, from June 19. Meanwhile, the Minister for Higher Education, K P Anbazhagan, has been admitted to a private hospital after testing positive for COVID-19.

The SARS-CoV-2 infection has spread far and wide in Chennai, including the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). A senior private secretary of the Chief Minister succumbed to the infection, while four more staff in the CMO have also tested positive.

The media persons in the state have been left to fend for themselves, even as the ministers are repeatedly holding press meets without preventive measures to seek publicity. 

With the positive cases reaching 52,334 and deaths climbing to 625 on June 18, the government is seeking new measures to prevent the spread of the pandemic. 

DAILY SPIKE BREACH 2,000 MARK

The state continues to suffer from the increasing number of COVID-19 cases. The total number of cases increased by 13,618 in the one week period starting from June 11, taking the tally to 52,334. The previous seven day period had seen a spike of 11,460 cases. Every day of the seven day period saw more than 1,500 cases, with the cases crossing 2,000 on two days. A maximum of 2,174 cases was registered on June 17.

The number of deaths also is increasing in the state, particularly with the state adding the missed deaths. The total number of deaths in the week was 276 taking the total to 625.

The four districts where a 12-day lockdown has been announced include: Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpet and Thiruvallur. The health, police and revenue departments have announced stringent measures during the lockdown as these districts were being granted a lot of relaxations from June 1. 

CHENNAI TALLY CROSSES 37,000

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) remains the most affected in the state by the viral infection. The cases increased by 9,201 in the seven days, from 27,398 on June 11 to 37,070 on June 18. With the exception of a small dip to 919 cases on June 16, the GCC contributed an average of 1,314 cases per day this week. The number of deaths in the city rose to 501, taking the mortality rate to 1.35%

Six out of fifteen zones in the GCC have more than 3,000 cases, with more infections in the central and northern regions. These six zones account for 70% of the total cases in the city, with Royapuram zone alone contributing more than 5,000 cases.

To further step up the prevention measures, the government of Tamil Nadu deputed five ministers to monitor the COVID-19 prevention works in the GCC.

MINISTER CONTRACTS INFECTION, CMO STAFF SUCCUMBS

The minister for higher education, K P Anbazhagan, who was incharge of zones 13, 14 and 15 with relatively lesser cases, has tested positive. He was admitted in a private hospital in Chennai for treatment and is reported to have mild symptoms. 

B.J. Dhamodharan (56), senior private secretary to the Chief Minister succumbed to the viral infection on June 17. More staff, including a photographer who travelled with the chief minister to Salem has also tested positive. The deceased private secretary and the other staff are under treatment in the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital.

S Balamurali (46) inspector of Police, attached to the Mambalam police station also passed away on June 17. 

A staff nurse working with the RGGGH also succumbed to the infection on June 13. She contracted the infection for the second time after contracting earlier in March. More than 70 PG doctors in the RGGGH have tested positive. The dean of the hospital has gone on leave, raising concerns over the spread of the infection to administrative personnel as well. 

The Amma Maligai, housing administrative offices of the GCC has been another spot of viral infections. The staff unions of the corporation accuse of lack of measures from the officials in carrying out preventive measures in the building, paving way for more infections.

MEDIA PERSONS RISK INFECTION

Soon after the ministers were deputed to monitor the preventive works in GCC, the burden and risk of the media persons have increased. Every minister remains focused on publicising their visits to various hospitals and centres. The press meets are held without any preventive measures and breaking the physical distancing norms.

The infected minister K P Anbazhagan himself has conducted press meets, primary health centres and distributed relief materials. The number of infections with the minister as the source could be reported in days to come.

The media persons, being forced to cover the visit of the ministers, are at the risk of contracting the infection, however, they are reportedly being denied testing, citing the lack of symptoms for COVID-19. 

The existing lack of coordinated approach to prevent the pandemic is getting exposed as days pass by. With people of the administration getting infected, the threat of severe spread looms large in the state, particularly in Chennai. The government needs to speed up and plan to prevent the spread before it goes out of control.