Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Palaniswami allots Rs 500 cr more to tackle coronavirus

Speaking in the Assembly, he listed out various measures taken by the government and said all precautionary measures to control the spread of coronavirus were being taken on a war-footing. 

He said the government had earlier allocated Rs 60 crore in the first phase. ''Now an additional amount Rs 500 crore will be allocated for coronavirus prevention measures and the amount will be given from the State Disaster Relief Fund.”

Stating that additional measures were being taken in government hospitals, he said of the 92,406 in-patient beds 9,266 were converted into isolated beds for treating corona patients.

''If needed, the numbers will be increased," he added.

He also said private hospitals were also asked to earmark 750 special isolated beds for treating corona patients.

The Chief Minister said strict action would be taken if people with coronavirus symptoms failed to inform about it to the government and urged them to use the helplines and toll free numbers.

Mr Palaniswamni, who earlier reviewed the situation after the number of positive cases increased to nine in the State, said instructions were given to paste details like "under House Isolation' at the doors of residences of those who had the history of travelling abroad or other states.

This information would be shared with the health officials to prevent them from contacting others.

Listing out various corona prevention initiatives, he said so far 2,05,393 passengers were screened in airports and 9,424 were under home monitoring and 198 under government monitoring.

He said 54 were being under observation in isolated wards at government hospitals.

''As far as our government is concerned, we are not prepared to lose even a single life due to coronavirus and will function with full dedication and commitment starting from Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Ministers, MPS and MLAs to tackle the disease by taking it up as a challenge and eradicate it," he said.