Chennai

After several states, including Maharashtra and Kerala, witnessed a spike in the number of COVID cases after relaxations and festivals, the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine has emphasised on the need to intensify awareness and education on COVID prevention.

Officials said that the north-east monsoon can also lead to infections. At this juncture, it is very critical to intensify and widely conduct awareness activities in a very short period of time, especially in areas like markets, shopping centres, bus stands, temples and prominent public places. As the present capacity of vehicles with DIPR is not adequate to cover the entire State, it is necessary to deploy more vehicles to bring effective behaviour change among the public to control the spread of COVID.

Thus, the State government has ordered to sanction Rs 20 crore from India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package for the financial year 2020-21. The activities are sensitising the public on wearing face masks, hand washing, social distancing and others through LED fitted vehicles across the State. As many as 50 vehicles costing Rs 19,000 each will be planned and implemented through the districts.