CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu has eased Covid-19 restrictions, withdrawing random sampling of 2% of air passengers. In view of the rapid rise in covid cases in China, the country has sought the Centre’s opinion on whether surveillance should continue for travelers traveling to or from China, the health minister said Ma Subramaniam said on Monday.
Since only about 20 new cases are reported each day after testing nearly 6,000 people, it is department of public health has relaxed norms for testing. Only people with flu-like symptoms such as fever, cold, cough and shortness of breath are tested for Covid, while asymptomatic patients, even if admitted to hospital, are not tested for Covid-19, he said.
“Over the past few days, China has seen a rise in cases. Experts and people have expressed concern. We have asked the Union government whether we should continue testing travelers from China,” he said.
The number of new cases in the state was down from 144 new cases on Nov. 1, when the state tested about 8,500 people. Chennai reported more than 35 new cases and the state had 1,492 active cases.
On Monday, after taking samples from 5,908 people, only 22 were positive. While Chennai reported four new cases, Kanyakumari, Chengalpet and Coimbatore each reported three new cases, followed by two in Tirupur, one each in Vellore, Thiruvarur, Sivaganga, Ranipet, WateredMadurai and Erode.
After the discharge of 46 patients, the country had 244 people in isolation. Among the active cases, 161 people were admitted to hospital – 17 in intensive care units and 64 in beds with oxygen support.
“New cases have dropped significantly since then. So have deaths, hospital admissions and positivity rates. These are all signals that the virus is not actively circulating,” a senior official said. “We know the disease is going to be around for a while, but we can’t say if we’re going to have another wave,” he said.
Since only about 20 new cases are reported each day after testing nearly 6,000 people, it is department of public health has relaxed norms for testing. Only people with flu-like symptoms such as fever, cold, cough and shortness of breath are tested for Covid, while asymptomatic patients, even if admitted to hospital, are not tested for Covid-19, he said.
“Over the past few days, China has seen a rise in cases. Experts and people have expressed concern. We have asked the Union government whether we should continue testing travelers from China,” he said.
The number of new cases in the state was down from 144 new cases on Nov. 1, when the state tested about 8,500 people. Chennai reported more than 35 new cases and the state had 1,492 active cases.
On Monday, after taking samples from 5,908 people, only 22 were positive. While Chennai reported four new cases, Kanyakumari, Chengalpet and Coimbatore each reported three new cases, followed by two in Tirupur, one each in Vellore, Thiruvarur, Sivaganga, Ranipet, WateredMadurai and Erode.
After the discharge of 46 patients, the country had 244 people in isolation. Among the active cases, 161 people were admitted to hospital – 17 in intensive care units and 64 in beds with oxygen support.
“New cases have dropped significantly since then. So have deaths, hospital admissions and positivity rates. These are all signals that the virus is not actively circulating,” a senior official said. “We know the disease is going to be around for a while, but we can’t say if we’re going to have another wave,” he said.