Coimbatore

On a day when the district reported its first death, the Ooty Government Headquarters Hospital began yoga sessions for COVID-19 patients to beat stress and anxiety.

Of the total 68 active cases, 44 asymptomatic persons are undergoing treatment at Ooty Government Headquarters Hospital and 24 persons with symptoms at ESI Hospital in Coimbatore. COVID-19 infection count in the hill district has surged past 100. Apart from serving nutritious food, multi-vitamin tablets and kabasura kudineer, the COVID-19 infected persons have been learning yoga in sessions to help them beat stress. “As there is a possibility for COVID-19 infected persons to get depressed under quarantine in the hospital, special instructors have been roped in to teach simple yogasanas for them to cope up with the situation and remain mentally strong. Being positive and stress free will help the patients recover soon,” said a senior doctor at Ooty GH.

Health officials said that more COVID-19 positive cases are likely to come up in The Nilgiris as swab samples of about 53 advocates and court staff have been collected after a retired 70-year-old lawyer tested positive.