Madras Medical College to get testing lab

Checkposts set up in 16 districts to screen people

17/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

Madras Medical College (MMC) will soon have a testing facility for COVID-19.

Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar on Monday said that after Tiruvarur, testing facilities for COVID-19 have been set up in Tirunelveli as well. Laboratories are also functioning at the King Institute of Preventive Medicine, Guindy and at the Government Medical College, Theni. “A testing facility is being set up at MMC and it will be ready in a day or two,” he said after holding a review meeting with officials.

Noting that the number of cases was increasing at the national level, the Minister said, “From 60, the number has crossed to more than 100 positive cases. As the number of positive patients keeps increasing, there is fear. So, we are further intensifying our measures in the State. The number of cases has also increased in Kerala. We need to be more cautious.” The sole patient who tested positive for COVID-19 in the State would be discharged from Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in the evening, he added.

Checkposts in 16 districts

In 16 identified districts, the Health department, along with police personnel, had set up checkposts to screen people travelling from Kerala. “The Kerala government is screening people travelling from Tamil Nadu. Similarly, we are screening people coming from Kerala at the entry points. We are activating all checkposts, and our doctors and nurses along with police personnel are conducting checks,” he said. On behalf of the public health department, the Minister appealed to the public to avoid all non-essential travel to neighbouring States or neighbouring countries for the next 15 days. “This is the biggest help that the public can give us,” he said.

The Minister reiterated that the situation was under control. As of now, 1,975 persons are under the direct surveillance, while 11 persons are under observation in hospitals, he said. “We have taken 88 samples. We are awaitingresults of two,” he added.