Chennai Dec 30 PTI The larger view of health experts in Tamil Nadu is that the Omicron variant of coronavirus has not led to loss of lives or severe lung infection but that none should lower their guard in following safety protocols while in public the state government said on Thursday Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi said the corporation has deployed enforcement teams to monitor whether there were any social gatherings in residential localities in view of new year celebrations and warned of penalising the organisers if such events were conducted Health department principal secretary J Radhakrishnan talking to reporters here along with Bedi saidthe larger opinion of health experts was that there have been no deaths due to Omicron nor cases of any people suffering from lung infection However the public should extend their cooperation by adhering to COVID-19 protocols and should not lower their guard he said The comments come in the backdrop of increased demand for oxygen from patients in the peak of the second wave in May when they experienced breathing difficulty after the virus affected their lungs Noting that RT-PCR tests have been increased in Tamil Nadu Radhakrishnan said the department has commenced focus testing of people in areas where they are likely to congregate in large numbers like vegetable markets hostels canteens coaching centres among others Asked whether there would be any ban on marriages or on social meetings where people tend to gather in large numbers he said Chief Minister M K Stalin was scheduled to hold a meeting with all officials of various government departments on Friday in this connection Gagandeep Singh Bedi said the Corporation has instructed colleges and schools to extend their co-operation by asking students not to have food in groups and maintain social distancing while doing so We have asked deans and principals to ensure that students wear a mask fully covering their nose and only then allow them to enter the premises Bedi also appealed to members of the public not to undertake unnecessary travel as many Covid-19 infections were reported from people who went on journeys In view of new year celebrations he said the GCC has deployed enforcement teams who would check whether people gather in large numbers If there is any social gathering we will take action he said and referred to the recent police department advisory on not conducting such events PTI VIJ APR APR

Chennai Dec 26 PTI Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday inspected infrastructure amenities and availability of medical oxygen here to tackle Omicron strain of COVID-19 34 cases of which has so far been detected in Tamil NaduAs many as 115 lakh beds have been readied in government and private sector hospitals as a precautionary measure and steps are being taken to create 50000 more beds if warranted at COVID care centres an official release here saidStalin inspected an oxygen manufacturing plant at the state-run Rajiv Gandhi Hospital and amenities there to treat coronavirus patients The CMs inspection comes amid concerns over the new virus variant and a debate on whether or not a third wave would emergeThe CM visited a state facility here that houses an oxygen cylinder warehouse for emergency purposes life saving emergency medical equipment supplies and ambulancesAlso he inspected the emergency control room and state war room to tackle the pandemic and a 24x7 vaccination centreAs on date the government said infrastructure is in place in various government hospitals to ensure additional availability of 244 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen per dayThe facilities to store liquid medical oxygen has been augmented further to ensure storage of 1731 tonnes and separately 167 tonnes could be produced by utilising 17940 oxygen concentratorsAlso there are approximately 25000 oxygen cylinders of different categories and capacities in ready for use modeOf the 34 Omicron cases detected so far 12 were discharged and 22 admitted in hospitals for treatment a medical bulletin said PTI VGN ROH ROH