COVID-19: As TN crosses 2,000 mark, CM seeks people's support to tackle virus

(Eds: Adds details, combines related stories)

Chennai, Apr 28 () As Tamil Nadu crossed the grim2,000 mark with 121 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, ChiefMinister K Palaniswami said the infections were on the rise aspeople have a casual attitude towards tackling the contagion.

Palaniswami hinted that easing curbs beyond May 3 hingedon a dip in numbers in the state, which is linked to effectivetoeing of norms like social distancing.

A 68-year-old man died here of COVID-19, the 25thfatality and with 121 more people testing positive, theaggregate number of those infected in Tamil Nadu so farclimbed to 2,058, authorities said.

The Chief Minister, chairing a review meeting of topofficials at the Secretariat, said coronavirus cases in thestate were on the rise as people have a casual attitudetowards norms like social distancing and do not understand thegravity of the contagion.

"The problem lies in the vegetable markets of bigcorporations like Chennai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli andMadurai.

Despite telling people (on precautions to be takenagainst COVID-19 like social distancing), they do not followit and think of it casually.

They don't understand the intensity and impact of thisdisease," he said.

Underscoring that Tamil Nadu was still in the earlystages, unlike some nations which were witnessing full blownspread of the virus, he said "when we take appropriate steps,the spread of the contagion can be easily halted if peoplegive their full cooperation."

If such a support was not extended, the State may not beable to rein in the spread of the infection even if othernations manage to control it, he said.

"Hence, people should follow the government imposed curbsunderstanding the gravity of this disease (COVID-19).

Police and local administration departments should takeup street to street propaganda using public address systemfitted vehicles and create awareness among them," he said.

Lockdown has been eased in countries like China,Italy andSpain as norms like social distancing, avoiding congregationsand following personal hygience were followed there, he said.

"Since these (norms) were not followed in our regions,the number of cases are on the rise and you must make peoplerealise it," he said, apparently hinting that easing oflockdown norms beyond May 3 was dependent on a dip in numbersin the State, which is again linked to effective toeing ofnorms like social distancing.

A government bulletin said the 68-year-old man wasadmitted in a private hospital here and succumbed to theillness caused by coronavirus today.

Among the newly infected was a five-day-old baby girl andchildren ranging from a seven month old toddler to a nine yearold boy.

Two city police personnel and a flower vendor at theKoyambedu market here were also among the newly infected.

While 27 people were discharged following treatment atvarious hospitals in the state, the aggregate number of peoplerecovered so far was 1,128, the bulletin said, adding that thenumber of active cases stood at 902.

Six Thai nationals following recovery were dischargedfrom a hospital in Erode district and shifted to Chennaiprison here.

Of the 121 new cases, 103 were from Chennai, taking thecount in the State capital to 673 and Krishnagiri continued tobe the sole green district with no cases.

As many as 6,850 people were tested today andcumulatively 93,189 people have undergone testing.

Greater Chennai Corporation authorities deployed a mobiletesting van at the Koyambedu market and also deputed healthprofessionals who took throat and nasal swab samples fromtraders and vendors.

While disinfection work was carried out across TamilNadu, it was done twice in containment zones.

On the lockdown front, a total of 3,26,645 FIRs have sofar been filed for violations across Tamil Nadu and a fine ofRs 3.40 crore levied, a release here said.

Also 2,93,193 vehicles, including cars and two-wheelershave been seized.

Arrest of people for alleged brewing of illicit liqourcontinued in several districts.

District Collectors, along with Police Superintendentsinspected regions under their jurisdiction to ensureimplementation of lockdown norms and disinfection work incontainment zones.

Pushcarts were allowed to vend vegetables while groceriesand all other kinds of shops and commercial establishmentswere closed for the third consecutive day of complete lockdownin Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem and Tirupur. VGNCOR APRRAVINDRANATH APRRAVINDRANATH