The minister alleged that 18 passengers have tested positive for the Delta variant. (file)
Chennai:
There has been a rise in the number of people who tested positive on their arrival in Tamil Nadu from abroad, with RT-PCR samples of 18 travelers from “at risk” and “non-risk” countries sent to Bengaluru for genomic sequencing analysis. Tamil Nadu Minister Ma Subramaniam said on Saturday.
The minister alleged that 18 passengers have tested positive for the Delta variant.
After inspecting the 14th mass, the Minister of Health and Family Welfare said, “All 18 passengers have tested positive for the delta variant. Their samples have been sent to INSTEM (Institute of Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine) Bengaluru for genomic sequencing analysis.” ” City vaccination campaign
According to him, 18 were treated at the Coronavirus Hospital in Guindy, Chennai, nine at the Annai Mahatma Gandhi Government Hospital in Tiruchirappalli, two at the Government General Hospital in Nagercoil and one in Bengaluru.
J Radhakrishnan, Principal Secretary, Health, said that 94.15 lakh people were eligible for the second dose of the vaccine and the impact of the delta version has not diminished globally.
“Globally, the impact of the delta version of the virus has been greater in Russia, Austria, Ukraine, Germany, the United Kingdom, and with the Omicron variant spreading to more than 50 countries. The good news is that the Omicron variant in Tamil Nadu has not been detected,” he said.
From the point of view of health experts, the messages to the public are: Wear a face mask, maintain social distance in public, and get vaccinated to prevent the spread of the virus.
People should get vaccinated and follow the COVID-19 protocol. If they do so, it is likely to further reduce the daily infection rate which currently stands at around 600 cases, he said.
In a lighter vein, he said, “Are we coronavirus? No. People should not deceive themselves by wearing masks just by looking at us. The virus is still prevalent.”
On vaccination, Mr Subramaniam said that so far 7.54 crore people have received the vaccine, of which 81.30 per cent received the first dose, while 48.95 per cent received the second dose.
“The eligible number to get the second dose of vaccine was 94.15 lakh and we have 95.78 lakh vaccines in stock. Mass vaccination camps have been organized targeting those who need a second dose,” he said. .
He said that during the massive vaccination campaign in Tamil Nadu (up to the 13th Mega Vaccination Camp), 2.43 crore people have been vaccinated.
,