Tamil Nadu intensifies sample collection

TNN | Apr 15, 2020, 13:45 IST

Picture used for representational purpose only

CHENNAI: With Pudukkottai, among three districts in Tamil Nadu that has shown nil Covid-19 positive cases so far — the other two being Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri — the district authorities intensified screening, testing and sample collection for early detection of community transmission. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an extension of national lockdown until May 3, TN swung into action to intensify rapid testing and contain the virus spread.
Until now, the sample collection had been restricted to government hospitals and medical colleges. It has now been extended to primary health centres (PHCs) in the districts. While samples of all the Tablighi Jamaat members, who attended a Delhi convention, and spread across the state, have been collected and tested, the process is on to collect samples and test family members and other contacts.
Pudukkottai collector P Uma Maheswari has kept her fingers crossed as test results of about 200 samples are yet to arrive from the Trichy government medical college. “The focus is now on collecting samples from people with influenza like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI),” said the collector. “We have been asked to take at least 250 samples every day from patients with these symptoms at the PHCs,” she added.
With the state government extending the lockdown for another two weeks, officials say they would use the time to increase testing rapidly and to contain the infection spread. In Coimbatore, there are three labs with a combined capacity to test 500 samples a day. “So, in the next four to five days, we will have tested nearly 2000 samples,’’ said Coimbatore collector K Rajamani. Besides, officials would keep a close watch on 1300 people whose samples have been collected and sent for tests so far. “We have adequate beds and ventilators. We have also asked private hospitals to keep separate fever clinics and wards ready for us to use if required,” said the collector. While the police have put in place more checkposts to curb vehicle movement and deployed additional personnel to ensure social distancing, the revenue officials are working overtime to maintain supply of essential items.
In Madurai, the administration hurried to add 1000 more isolation beds to the 2000 kept ready. Around 150 ventilators have been readied. The additional isolation beds are being readied across the district and government colleges, schools and hostels would be used if required. In Dindigul district, a hotspot with high Covid-19 cases, authorities say 570 isolation beds and 41 ventilators have been kept ready in both government and private hospitals.
In Trichy district, the administration and police intensified measures to ensure people heeded to the lockdown norms. In Trichy district, 43 Covid-19 positive cases were being monitored while central region comprising eight districts had 144 cases as of Monday. The district authorities continued with their containment plan police using drones for surveillance.