TN health secretary explains how state ensured active Covid-19 cases are less than 20%

TRICHY: Only less than 20% of Covid-19 patients are under treatment in Tamil Nadu thanks to early identification and effective treatment, said health secretary J Radhakrishnan said on Thursday.

Radhakrishnan visited Viralimalai Government Hospital in Pudukkottai district for a surprise inspection with health minister C Vijaya Baskar.

He said while the death rate stands at 1.63%, only 19.1% of the total positive cases are under treatment and rest have returned home after treatment.

The state has reported 2.79 lakh positive cases till Thursday and 53,486 are presently undergoing treatment. So far 4,571 people have lost their lives due to Covid-19, according to the state media bulletin.

The health secretary stressed the need to overcome the fear of a rise in Covid-19 cases.

He said the increase in positive cases being identified is the result of aggressive testing which has helped spot those who need effective treatment.

The health minister said 1.18 lakh beds are kept on standby for Covid-19 treatment in the state. Various levels of hospitals in the state ranging from government medical college hospitals, district government hospitals, and village level hospitals are equipped with Covid-19 treatment facilities, he added.

The minister stated that adopting the strategy of aggressive testing, early diagnosis, and isolation of patients has been effective in containing the spread of the virus. "All collectors have been informed about the measures to be taken to avoid the spread of the virus during the rainy season," he said.