Even as COVID positive cases are witnessing a steep rise for the last three days, on average 12 out of 100 persons tested in the city are positive for coronavirus.
Chennai: According to sources in the Chennai Corporation and Directorate of Public Heath, the samples taken from around 6,000 to 7,000 persons are being tested every day in various labs in the city. “The authorities keep changing the testing policy and the number of samples collected and tested has increased during the period,” a source said.
As per the daily case report (bulletin) released by the health department, as many as 967 and 806 cases were reported on Monday and Tuesday respectively, which are highest one-day-rise since the outbreak. In other words, around 12 persons are tested positive for every 100 samples tested by the city labs.
Every day, the State government is testing around 10,000 samples, and on Tuesday, as many as 11,097 samples were tested in all the districts including the city. While releasing the daily report on the cases, the State government does not make the number of samples tested district-wise public.
“A few weeks ago, we were asked to send the family members of the positive persons only if they show any symptom. Now, directions are given to send all the close contacts for the testing. Due to this, testing and new cases will increase for a few days,” a zonal health officer of the Chennai Corporation said.
Presently, the civic body has 40 sample collection centres and 10 mobile sample collection centres. Meanwhile, the Chennai Corporation and the state health department are releasing contradictory numbers while releasing the number of deaths in the city. As per the State government bulletin, as many as 150 persons had died on Tuesday, but according to the Chennai Corporation, only 135 persons had died. On the other hand, the positive cases are in the rise in the worst-affected Royapuram zone as the number of affected persons has crossed 3,000 on Tuesday. On Tuesday alone, 105 new cases reported in the zone.
‘Don’t have Aadhar number, stay in quarantine’
As per the daily case report (bulletin) released by the health department, as many as 967 and 806 cases were reported on Monday and Tuesday respectively, which are highest one-day-rise since the outbreak. In other words, around 12 persons are tested positive for every 100 samples tested by the city labs.
Every day, the State government is testing around 10,000 samples, and on Tuesday, as many as 11,097 samples were tested in all the districts including the city. While releasing the daily report on the cases, the State government does not make the number of samples tested district-wise public.
“A few weeks ago, we were asked to send the family members of the positive persons only if they show any symptom. Now, directions are given to send all the close contacts for the testing. Due to this, testing and new cases will increase for a few days,” a zonal health officer of the Chennai Corporation said.
Presently, the civic body has 40 sample collection centres and 10 mobile sample collection centres. Meanwhile, the Chennai Corporation and the state health department are releasing contradictory numbers while releasing the number of deaths in the city. As per the State government bulletin, as many as 150 persons had died on Tuesday, but according to the Chennai Corporation, only 135 persons had died. On the other hand, the positive cases are in the rise in the worst-affected Royapuram zone as the number of affected persons has crossed 3,000 on Tuesday. On Tuesday alone, 105 new cases reported in the zone.
‘Don’t have Aadhar number, stay in quarantine’
The Greater Chennai Corporation has directed all private labs in the city to keep those do not have Aadhar cards in quarantine until the test results are declared. According to a notification issued by G Prakash, Chennai Corporation Commissioner, the private labs have been instructed to collect the place of residence along with door number, correct street name, area name, PIN code and Aadhar number. The private labs should verify the phone number by dialling the given number before accepting it. “If a suspected person do not have Aadhar number and the sample has been taken, they shall be placed under quarantine till the results are declared,” the notification said.
Explaining the reason for issuing such an order, Prakash said that the list provided by the private labs is incomplete due to which some of the positive persons could not be traced. As a result of this, untraced patients would be a source of infection to many others as well as they would not be able to get proper treatment. There are 10 government labs and 13 private labs in the city and all the labs should send reports to the state health department, directorate of public health and the Chennai Corporation.