Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Thursday denied any attempt by the government to under-report COVID-19 deaths in Tamil Nadu.
“There is nothing to hide regarding deaths due to COVID-19, and they cannot be covered up,” he told reporters in Salem, following allegations of inconsistencies in the number of deaths recorded by the Greater Chennai Corporation.
“Today, if someone dies due to COVID-19, everyone comes to know about it and it cannot be hidden. Deaths reported in government hospitals and statistics on mortalities due to COVID-19 in private hospitals are collected and reported,” Mr. Palaniswami said.
‘Will stay shut’
Indicating that places of worship would not be opened for the public any time soon, the CM pointed out that requests for the closure of religious places were being raised in States like Kerala and Delhi, which had permitted public entry to such places.
The government was taking decisions based on advice from medical experts, he said.
Asked if COVID-19 tests would be increased, Mr. Palaniswami, citing statistics, said that Tamil Nadu had so far tested over 6.09 lakh people. “Doctors say that deaths are higher among persons with co-morbid conditions,” he said, reiterating that the mortality rate was the lowest in Tamil Nadu when compared to the rest of the country.
Mr. Palaniswami said that the primary responsibility of the government was to treat and cure persons affected by the disease. The government had made all arrangements in this regard. “In Salem alone, 2,000 beds have been arranged to treat affected persons and things are in a state of readiness to increase bed strength to 5,000. We have the most number of ventilators in the country, about 3,384 devices. The government has appointed healthcare workers as required,” he said.
‘No community spread’
The CM insisted that there was no community spread in the State and as far as Chennai was concerned, the spike in numbers was on account of its population density and narrow lanes.
“During the R.K. Nagar byelections, we saw 30 houses in just three-ft-wide lanes. If one or two persons test positive here, it can spread to others. This is a new kind of viral disease and a drug has not be found for it. Healthcare workers are dedicating themselves to saving us from COVID-19 and it is only due to their expertise and experience that over 19,000 persons have been cured”, he said.
Appreciating the efforts of all departments involved in COVID-19 prevention, Mr. Palaniswami insisted that the disease was under control in all districts and persons coming from other States were being tested and provided treatment at hospitals.
Mr. Palaniswami on Thursday inaugurated the 7.87-km two-tier flyover here and named it after former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. He also announced that a 1.28-km flyover on the Salem- Bengaluru Highway near AVR roundabout would ber called Puratchi Thalaivar M.G.R. Flyover.
