While the cases are expected to ease on Monday, the minister said it will take a few days to determine the actual trend post Pongal holidays; Mega Vaccination Camp on 19th January
Considering the Pongal holidays, festivals and people traveling from cities to villages in the last three to four days, there is an apprehension that the spread of COVID-19 may be higher this week. The trend of the matter will be known in two-three days, the Health Minister mother. Subramaniam said. on Monday
With its rapid spread being one of the main features of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, the minister said that one infected person can transmit the infection to eight or nine persons. “In the last 10 days, we are seeing a daily increase of around 2,000 cases in the state. Cases went down a bit yesterday. As far as the test results we got so far for today [Monday]We are expecting the cases to be 400 to 500 less as compared to yesterday,” he said.
“Nevertheless, in view of the continuous holidays and festivities in the last three to four days, there is an apprehension that the spread may be higher. Lakhs of people have traveled from cities like Chennai to their villages. Even if one is infected, they can spread the infection to other people in the village as well. We will know the trend – whether the cases are increasing or decreasing – in two to three days,” he told reporters on the sidelines of launching a 100-bed COVID-19 care center at the National Institute of Siddha.
‘Only 8,900 beds occupied’
The state has a total of 1.92 lakh beds for COVID-19, of which only 8,900 beds were occupied, he said, adding that in Chengalpattu, out of 10,360 beds, 456 beds were occupied, in which An occupancy rate of six percent was recorded. COVID-19 treatment facilities were set up in 65 government and private hospitals in the district. CCCs were established in several colleges in Chengalpattu district.
COVID-19 vaccination
The minister said that the total vaccination coverage of the state has crossed nine crores. Of the 5.78 crore eligible persons in the state, 88.63% have received the first dose and 64.45 percent have received the second dose.
“When we take into account 33.46 lakh eligible persons in the age group of 15-18 years, the first dose coverage is 87.91% and the second dose coverage is 60.74%,” he said. In all, the state has given 9,10,26,483 doses so far.
He said that so far 76 percent people in the age group of 15-18 years have been vaccinated in the state. About 25.22 lakh children have been vaccinated so far out of 33.46 lakh eligible. The list of students who have not yet received vaccination is being prepared.
Referring to the slow pace of vaccination in the last two to three days due to holidays, he said that the 19th Mega Vaccination Camp would be organized at 50,000 places on 19th January. The Minister said that all categories of eligible persons, including those eligible for the precautionary dose, should come forward and get immunization done in these camps.
About 57 lakh doses of Covishield and 17 lakh doses of Covaxin were on hand in the state. The second dose pendency was around 90 lakh, he said.
Districts backward in vaccination were being identified and physical inspection was being done, the minister said, adding, “We will visit Tenkasi and Tirunelveli during the mega camp. In Tirunelveli the coverage of the first dose is 77% and the coverage of the second dose is 46%. While the coverage of the first dose of Tenkasi is 77% and that of the second dose is 55%,” he said.
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