Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Friday said COVID-19-related fatalities in Tamil Nadu were relatively high earlier as some patients did not complete the course of treatment.
“There are fewer deaths now,” he said while speaking in Kancheepuram after reviewing the progress of government works in the district and in Chengalpattu.
“The death rate is on the decline. I think it was 64 yesterday (Thursday), down from 118 or 115 a few days ago. Even after getting back home, some people died as they didn’t receive proper treatment and had returned in a hurry,” Mr. Palaniswami said.
He described the decline in deaths as a “huge achievement”.
The testing of symptomatic persons had been ramped up, and those testing positive were being admitted to hospitals for treatment. The death rate was higher among those with co-morbidities, he said.
“If people follow government guidelines, it would help in containing the spread [of the virus],” the CM said, calling upon the public to extend their cooperation to the government.
Mr. Palaniswami said while 88% of those who had contracted COVID-19 had recovered and returned home, cases were on the decline due to the efforts being made by the AIADMK government.
Referring to criticism that the government had failed to control the spread of the infection, he urged his critics “not to belittle” the hard work put in by officials of various government agencies involved in the fight against COVID-19. He said COVID-19 was a new infection, and there was no medicine for it as of yet.
He reviewed the implementation of various people’s welfare schemes in Kancheepuram.
According to him, when compared to Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi, Tamil Nadu had been efficiently curtailing the spread of the pandemic.
Minister for Rural Industries P. Benjamin, Kancheepuram Collector P. Ponniah and Chengalpattu Collector A. John Louis were present on the occasion.