Spread of Coronavirus has seemingly stabilized as only 5928 new cases were reported on Tuesday with 96 fatalities in the State.
Chennai had 1084 fresh infections with 22 deaths, while the western districts of Coimbatore 581 and Salem 335 were showing high numbers. Other districts with high rates of infection were Chengalpattu 384, Cuddalore 286, Kallakurichi 209, Thiruvallur 296.
Meanwhile, the controversial practice of blocking with asbestos sheets the doors of houses where people in quarantine lived would be done away with, Chennai Corporation Commissioner G Prakash told the media.
Speaking after a discussion with Corporation officials and frontline Covid-19 warriors on the next step to be taken to prevent the spread of the virus now that the lockdown has been relaxed, Prakash said the Corporation would next go the places of work of people and do the testing.
While the fever camps and the door-to-door surveys would continue, people would be tested at malls, complexes and industries by the Corporation, he said, urging the people to be careful for another three months and continue to follow the norms like wearing of facemasks, maintaining social distance and using sanitizers.
Relaxations had been brought to the lockdown after five months to save the economy but the Corporation would continue with its work. Testing of people, which helped manage the pandemic, would continue, he said, adding that so far 11 lakh RT PCR tests had been done.
People travelling from various parts of the State to Chennai would not have to undergo quarantine and those coming from other States and countries would be allowed to isolate themselves in their homes for 14 days if they had no symptoms.
He said the seropositivity testing of 12,600 samples in Chennai by the ICMR had revealed that 25 per cent of the population had developed immunity for the disease now as against June’s 21.5 per cent.
Also the State’s Covid-19 positivity had gone down to 9 per cent from the 36 per cent in June, he said and added that they aspired to achieve 5 per cent.
