With the e-pass system and quarantine for inter-district travel being given up, Health Department officials said it would now be difficult to track the pandemic cases in districts. They fear that the number of COVID-19 cases are likely to increase in Chennai, as offices are reopening and people would return from other districts.
Chennai:
According to Health Department officials, workplace clusters could become a challenge in Chennai with a greater number of cases likely to emerge there. Public health experts added that several workplaces, including banks, departmental stores, textile stores and jewellery stores, have opened in the city. This would make it challenging to prevent and control clusters, they added.
“There is no necessity of tracking people within the State. In case of any symptoms, people can walk into any of the testing centres and get tested. The number of sample collection centres and fever clinics have been increased to ensure adequate testing,” said Dr TS Selvavinayagam, director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine.
As per the revised guidelines that was issued on Monday, everyone travelling from other states or countries to Tamil Nadu would be screened using thermal scanners and would be put under 14-day quarantine. All symptomatic cases and those with influenza-like illnesses would also be tested.
Officials said that adequate testing of symptomatic cases and high-risk groups, such as those with comorbidities, pregnant women and elderly people, would help keep the cases under control and prevent clusters.
Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan said the system of tracking symptomatic cases and their contacts within the State and those coming from other states was in place to prevent any major clusters from forming. This would keep the spread of infection in check and also ensure that movement of people was not affected, he said.
Lockdown violation arrests cross 1 million
The State police have so far recorded arrest of more than 10 lakh people for violating lockdown norms from March 24, when it was imposed to control the spread of coronavirus, to August 31. A communication from the State police headquarters said that the total number of violation cases recorded during this period were 9,06,939 and 10,04,550 people have been arrested in connection with various lockdown violations. The police had seized 9,06,939 vehicles, and also collected Rs 22.20 crore as fine from violators. However, none who violated lockdown protocol were remanded to custody during the period. All of them were allowed to go home on station bail after cases were booked against them.