Busy pockets of central and north Chennai now in a state of panic

“Once busy pockets of Chennai are now in a state of panic leaving streets deserted. With the Corporation and police officials cordoning off the clusters, the supply of vegetables, gas cylinder, newspapers are affected in the cluster areas,” said C Sasidharan, a resident of Choolai.

In Choolai, at least ten streets are now cordoned off, escalating the corona panic among the public.

Sighting an ambulance carrying suspected corona case is now common in our area and it is disturbing, he said.

Meanwhile, COVID nodal officer for Chennai and Commissioner of Revenue Administration, J Radhakrishnan, who inspected Ice House, Choolai, Thattankulam and Pattalam, where more corona cases were reported in the last two days, also directed the city Corporation to distribute 500 grams of bleaching powder and disinfectant to every house coming under containment area.

“Lack of discipline from public and poor social distancing in the north and Central Chennai is the major reason for the epidemic spread,” a senior official told DT Next. With the congested pockets becoming vulnerable for COVID infection and the public refusing to maintain social distancing, the top brass is reworking strategies to arrest the infection, the official said.

The number of barricaded streets in Chennai have doubled in the past two weeks and now those who walk without a valid reason are also questioned and warned about the epidemic upsurge. Further, the usage of sanitisers among the police and corporation staff is also increased, so that those posted near hotspot periodically wash their hands.

The senior officials also conducted a meeting with field officials monitoring COVID cluster and containment areas in Koyambedu, Choolai, Ice House and Pattalam.