One-third of Chennai covered by fever camps

CHENNAI: The Greater Chennai Corporation has screened about 29 lakh people for Covid-19, which is more than one-third of the city's population, in the last five months. The fever clinics started functioning on May 8, and they have been held in all the 15 zones. So far, about 56,904 camps have been held and 1.68 lakh people have been screened. Of them, about 1.62 lakh were tested. Across all testing centres, about 15 lakh people have been tested.
Greater Chennai Corporation commissioner G Prakash said, "Fever clinics have been intrumental in helping us in early detection of Covid-19. Screening the high risk population has managed to keep the transmission in check. We cannot stop the pandemic but we can atleast protect the vulnerable population. We are carrying out about 14,000 tests per day now, the highest in the country when compared with the population," he said. He added that this strategy had helped them reduce fatalty rate as well.
The maximum number of camps were held in Teynampet zone (5,973) followed by Anna Nagar (5,433), Thiru Vi Ka Nagar (5,356), Royapuram (4,985), Tondiarpet (4,958) and Adayar (4,333).
On Wednesday alone, 21,379 people were screened at 424 fever clinics and swabs were collected from 1,090 people. Officials said initially they were holding more camps in the core city regions such as Tondiarpet, Royapuram and Thiru Vi ka nagar where the cases were higher. Now, focus is on zones such as Alandur Valasaravakkam, Perungudi, Sholinganallur. "Though most of them are now travelling to the city for work, the officials are ensuring that people attend fever clinics in areas where Covid cases are reported," said an official.
On October 7, out of the 1,090 swabs collected from fever clinics, about 50% (560) were from added areas where the cases are rising now. While calling it a commendable achievement, epidemiologists, however, cautioned that the government should start thinking of reducing these numbers as it is an expensive affair.
"If we look at the numbers, 7% of the people who have been tested at the fever clinics have tested positive. But the civic agency had to spend a huge amount. They should now focus on strategies that will ensure people follow Covid protocols such as physical distancing and wearing masks. The spend on awareness should increase now," said T Jacob John, epidemiologist.