MLAs, other visitors to Secretariat screened for corona

“Corona is the most dreaded word among the public and the elders are living in a state of panic. The state of Odisha and Kerala have suspended Assembly proceedings in the wake of corona spread,” Duraimurugan said participating in the debate.

The DMK leader also noted that neighbouring Andhra Pradesh has suspended the local body polls, though Tamil Nadu has closed the schools and educational institution no clear-cut announcements are in place, the DMK leader said. He also noted that a lot of patients from other states are visiting hospitals in the state and urged for monitoring of such patients from other states.

To this, Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar said that the state government was following the protocols issued by the WHO. As of now, there is no conformed Corona case in Tamil Nadu and those with symptoms are being screened. As per WHO guidelines, those above 70 years are vulnerable for corona and 16 bordering districts are under scanner.

There is no need for panic and the State Health Department is gearing up to curtail corona, the Minister informed the Assembly.

Earlier in the day, DMK and AIADMK leaders, including MK Stalin and state Ministers were scanned using thermal scanners before entering the Assembly and thermal scanner camps were put up at Fort St George to screen visitors.

The government doctors present in the camp also prescribed basic medicine for those with cold and cough. Later in the day Chief Secretary K Shanmugham issued an order for all department secretaries insisting them to refrain from conducting regular meetings. He also urged the health department to install adequate thermal scanners at the Secretariat and advised visitors to refrain from visiting Fort St George.