1 lakh active Covid-19 cases: Tamil Nadu revises care protocol

CHENNAI: As active cases of Covid-19 crossed the 1 lakh mark (1,00,668) on Saturday, the Tamil Nadu government revised admission protocols to reserve hospital beds for sick patients, cancelled elective surgeries and closed out-patient wards for specialty clinics in all government hospitals.
The state added 14,842 new cases and 80 deaths, pushing the cumulative case tally to 10,66,329 and death toll to 13,475. On Saturday, 9,142 patients were discharged. Chennai reported 25 deaths, Chengalpet and Tiruvallur seven each, Madurai five and Kancheepuram four.

Chennai, which reported 4,086 new cases, was left with 31,506 active cases by the end of the day. Two other districts – Chengalpet (1,163) and Coimbatore (1,004) reported a four-digit increase, while 28 other districts reported a three-digit increase. Perambalur (19) reported the least number of fresh cases in the state.
Health secretary J Radhakrishnan said nearly half of active cases in the state were still home quarantined and about 8.85% of patients were in Covid care centres and 25.8% were in hospitals. “Most patients admitted to government hospitals are those who require oxygen, aggressive therapy and intensive care,” he said, urging people who test positive or show symptoms not to rush to hospitals.
Those with symptoms or those tested positive can call helplines for guidance, he said. The screening centres in Chennai do basic blood test and Xrays for Covid patients, and doctors advise patients home isolation or hospitalization. “We must trust our doctors. With such a model, Kerala has been able to keep most of its tertiary care beds, oxygen and other resources for sick people,” he said.
“If patients are fine after three days of treatment in a medical college hospital, doctors send them either to a health centre, covid care centre or their home based on their condition,” said director of medical education Dr R Narayanababu.
The state will also depute more than 350 doctors appointed through the medical recruitment board and 1,600 doctors posted at mini clinics to the Covid hospitals. The directorate of medical education is working with self-financing medical colleges to ensure enough beds, manpower and infrastructure for patients during the surge.