Tamil Nadu has adequate vax doses, says EPS

Tamil Nadu has adequate vax doses, says EPS

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:13.04.2021

Asserting that adequate doses of Covid vaccine are available in Tamil Nadu, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday called upon government staff to get vaccinated within two weeks. The management of industries, government offices, workplaces, markets and residential complexes should contact Greater Chennai Corporation/district administration to arrange for Covid vaccination that can be administered at their premises, the chief minister said.

During a review meeting with the heads of departments at the Secretariat, the chief minister said the public should get vaccinated at nearby hospitals.

Employers need to ensure staff get vaccinated: CM

Palaniswami said, “The management of industries, restaurants and markets should arrange for vaccination for their employees. If the management requests government hospitals, the government is ready to vaccinate the workers at their premises. We have adequate doses of vaccines.” He urged people to avoid crowding in public places, wear masks, maintain social distance and follow the government’s standard operating procedures.

In a slew of directions to department heads, Palaniswami said all eligible people should get vaccinated and the administrative machinery should reassure people about the necessity to take the vaccination. “The vaccination is done at primary health centres, government hospitals, mini clinics and private hospitals. The state administered 37.8 lakh vaccine doses until Sunday to health staff, frontline workers, election staff and people above 45 years,” an official release said, quoting the chief minister. The state has received 54.85 lakh doses of vaccine from the Centre until Sunday.

The chief minister said the administration should conduct 90,000 RT-PCR tests a day, besides increased and aggressive testing in affected areas, and the results should come out in 24 hours. Tracing of a minimum 25-30 contacts of infected persons should be expedited and they should undergo RT-PCR tests. “Fever camps should be set up across the state and those with symptoms of cold and fever should be diagnosed and treated,” the release said. The state government has set up 8.92 lakh fever camps so far and treated 14.47 lakh people with symptoms of fever. As many as 1,309 containment zones were identified as on April 10 and intensive monitoring measures were taken.

The areas where there are three or more affected people must be declared a micro-containment zone and preventive measures taken against the spread of infection. The infected persons should be either taken to Covid care centres or exclusive Covid hospitals as per protocol, the release said.