EPS to review corona status with health experts’ committee on Sept 8

Chennai

With the State continuing to record more than 6,000 active cases and southern and western districts showing high positivity rate, the top brass will conduct a strategic session at the Secretariat to review the status on COVID infections, sources said. Tamil Nadu has opened up business activities and the Chief Secretary has warned the Collectors about an expected spike by next month.

In this context, the meeting will have discussions on how to reduce positivity rate, mortality rate and increase the level of testing in rural and COVID-prone zones, sources said. Almost 80 per cent of the commercial activities have begun functioning in the State. Reopening of schools, colleges and cinema theatres, health parameters and possibility of further relaxations to traders will be discussed at the meeting. Another key point will be the conduct of comprehensive fever camps and effective quarantine through containment practise, sources said.

Chief Secretary K Shanmugam has already urged District Collectors to monitor the corona treating charges levied by private hospitals to ensure that the government guidelines are followed while billing patients. The inputs from the district authorities will also be evaluated during the Tuesday meeting. Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar, Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan and Corporation Commissioner G Prakash are to attend the meeting.

Corporation to reopen 57 community halls

The Greater Chennai Corporation has decided to reopen community halls in the city, which were closed down in March after the government announced the lockdown and disallowed holding functions. According to an official, online bookings have already started for family functions from September 1. “However, the people should follow COVID protocol and only 50% capacity of the halls will be allowed to fill,” the official added. The civic body maintains 57 community halls in the city. Of the 57 community halls, two are air-conditioned. The rent for the community halls ranges from Rs 500 to Rs 2,15,000 per day, excluding GST, based on the size, locality and capacity of persons the halls could accommodate. Users also must pay a security deposit, which would be refunded after deducting electricity bill and charges for damages incurred, if any.