With the capital city recording a dip in the number of COVID cases for the past few days, Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner G Prakash on Monday said that workers returning to the city should compulsorily undergo 14-day quarantine to prevent further spread.
Chennai:
“Companies should apply for e-pass for its workers from other districts or migrant workers from other States by providing a list of names. They should provide arrangements to the workers to quarantine themselves. Our officials will inspect the company premises to find out whether they have basic facilities to accommodate its employees. If any of them develop symptoms for COVID-19 they should immediately report it. Our team will also monitor them,” Prakash told reporters at the inauguration of free COVID quarantine centre at Velachery.
The industry-related e-pass is being issued by the civic body, he said, adding that they have issued 500 to 1000 passes in the last two days. To a query on when the lockdown restrictions would be lifted in the city, he said that it would be impossible to provide complete relaxation immediately considering the spread of the virus.
Meanwhile, Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan said that Chennai model would be adopted in its neighbouring districts like Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu and Kancheepuram to bring down the surge in cases. “We are going to increase medical camps, testing and also the basic infrastructure to prevent the spread,” he said.
2/3 OF MIGRANTS HAVE RETURNED TO CITIES
- More than 80% of the migrants who returned are engaged mainly in labour work in villages which reflects absence of skilled employment
- Over 1/4th of the workers are still searching for work in villages
- One in 4 households (24 per cent) is thinking of taking their child out of school
- Women in households where members have returned experienced more work load compared to others
- 40% of households still reported reduction in meals
- 55% said they have reduced the meal items.
Excerpts from study on ‘How is the hinterland unlocking’ from June 24 to July 8